JerseyMan Magazine V6 N6

THE BUSINESS ISSUE

George Anastasia’s

MOB SCENE

Volume 6 • Number 6

$3.95

Honoring Our 2016 Men & Women of the Year Henrik Fisker ELECTRIC VEHICLE PIONEER

Jersey Style Brew TUCKAHOE BREWING COMPANY

Picking Philly Up RIDESHARING COMPANIES REVOLUTIONIZING TRANSPORTATION

www.jerseymanmagazine com

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PUBLISHER

FROM JerseyMan Magazine THE VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 6 ____________________________________________________________________________________

BY KEN DUNEK

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Ken Dunek Publisher CONTRIBUTING EDITOR George Brinkerhoff

E LIVE IN AN ELECTRONIC AGE, and have so many choices to occupy our time.

On Demand, Netflix, and a DVR of our favorite shows are all immediate gratification for our entertainment needs.

And I have a terrible confession to make.

As a publisher of a magazine, I’ve been lazy with my reading!

So on a recent weekend trip for work, I found myself at an airport with a void in my electronic choices. So I started to read Bill O’Reilly’s (co-authored by Martin Dugard) “Killing The Rising Sun.” (Politics aside, I find his series of books a historical treasure.)

So much of life is about perspective, and this story brings us back to a day where our very existence was in jeopardy.

Hitler’s Nazi regime was defeated in WWII, but Japan’s Emperor Hirohito had bombed Pearl Harbor, invaded China, and was bent on capturing at least his part of the globe.

Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb weighed heavy. He knew that innocent civilians, including women and children, would pay the price for their country’s greed.

ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, Michael Bradley, George Brinkerhoff, Sam Carchidi, Alexandra Dunek, Ashley Dunek, Jamie Dunek, Molly Golubcow, John Hopkins, Robert Kennedy, Mike Kern, Sam Kraft, Bill Lyon, Glen Macnow, Anthony Mongeluzo, Daniel R. Morroni, Gervase Peterson, Nina Radcliff, MD, Andrew Ryan, Nick Santangelo, Kurt Smith, Dr. Rubina Tahir DC, T. Jordan Wompierski Administrative Assistants Alexandra Dunek Jamie Dunek Allison Farcus Events Coordinator Ashley Dunek Editorial 856-813-1153

Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima. Bockscar’s “Fat Man” obliterated Nagasaki.

Advertising 856-912-4007

Two nuclear blasts incinerated hundreds of thousands. The radioactive debris rained down and killed scores more with glowing and toxic ash.

Printing 856-813-1153

The outcome of the book is well known, but I refer back to my sentence about perspective.

We are now living in uncertain times. And for the first time I can remember since the late 60’s, our future may be a bit cloudy.

But let us not forget the price our brave servicemen paid for our freedom, enduring horrific treatment in POW camps in Southeast Asia, and flying dangerous missions over hostile lands.

If we do indeed remember, it will help guide our current leadership to make the proper choices in the future.

History need not repeat itself, if we commit to learning from it.

So pick up a book, and read about America.

There may well never be a better time to do it.

“ I never dreamed about success, I worked for it.”

– Estee Lauder 8

Controller Rose M. Balcavage Sales Associates Ashley Dunek, Jamie Dunek, Terri Dunek, Allison Farcus, Chris Kazmarck, JP Lutz, Tinavalen Nguyen JerseyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua. . . . . . . . . . HPK CPAs & Consultants Nick DeRose. . . . . . . . . Legacy Treatment Services Joseph Devine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kennedy Health Ted Flocco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ernst & Young Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Jeffrey Jaskol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Jaskol Group Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . The Kennedy Companies Julie LaVan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaVan Law Anthony Mongeluzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Ryan Niedoba. . . . . . Niedoba, Beppel & Co., LLC Mike Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Paul Tully . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eagle Wealth Strategies

“ Find three hobbies you love: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape, and one to be creative.” – Unknown Publisher Ken Dunek (center) presents a check for charity to Man of the Year honoree Jerry Flanagan, along with his wife Tracy, at the 2016 Unmasking the Legacy Gala. (See page 48)

JerseyMan Magazine/PhillyMan Magazine, products of the partnership of Joe LaGrossa, Ken Dunek, and Alex Kazmarck, are published

by New Opportunity Publishing, LLC, with offices at 7025 Central Highway, Pennsauken, NJ, 08109. Copyright 2016.

www.jerseymanmagazine.com

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INSIDE

“ Intelligence without ambition is like a bird without wings.”

– Salvadore Dali

JerseyMan Magazine

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VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 6

48 COVER

STORY

UNMASKING THE LEGACY HONORING OUR MEN & WOMEN OF THE YEAR

20 GENO AURIEMMA

by BILL LYON

24 1980: THE BEST OF TIMES

by GLEN MACNOW

30 A REAL PICK ME UP

Uber & Lyft have revolutionized transportation in Philadelphia

36 THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

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Crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo have helped thousands of causes

40 ALTERNATING CURRENT

Danish designer Henrik Fisker is plugged in and loving It

52 CHANGING TIMES

How the Wells Fargo Center makes the switch from ice hockey to basketball to concerts and back again

58 BREWING JERSEY STYLE

Tuckahoe Brewing Company

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58 66

62 GOLF SPONSORSHIP

Ren Cicalese of Alloy Silverstein

66 THE CALL TO THE HALL

Flyers’ great Eric Lindros elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame

COLUMNS 12 JOTTINGS • 18 FEEL GOOD PHILLY • 22 GEORGE ANASTASIA’S MOB SCENE • 26 THE ENTHUSIAST 28 GET FIT • 74 DR. NINA • 76 WHAT WE WEAR • 80 THE ENTREPRENEUR COACH • 82 THE CIGAR GUY 86 THE HEALTH REFEREE • 90 TECH TIME • 93 THE WINE MAN • 94 SAY GERV? BY GERVASE PETERSON

jerseymanmagazine.com

Cover photograph by Jeremy Messler Photography, LLC

JOTTINGS

______________________________________________________________________________

BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

Charles Dickens and Business

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harles Dickens, one of the best writers of any era and author of many classics, visited America in 1842 and one of his stops was in Philadelphia. It was here, among other experiences, that he walked the city streets, admiring the Fairmount Waterworks on the Schuylkill river as “wondrous,” meeting with Edgar Allan Poe (Dickens’ pet raven Grip, was the inspiration for Poe’s poem “The Raven,” and Grip resides to this day in Philadelphia, stuffed on his perch in the Free Library) and touring the Eastern State Penitentiary. Here, he was struck by conditions in which the prisoners lived and he made it his business to do something, writing and speaking out against their prolonged solitary confinement (sometimes lasting years, even for petty crimes), and advocating prison reform.

A year after he returned to England from America, he penned “A Christmas Carol.”

Within that volume, Dickens offers his classic story of redemption after visits by three spirits on Christmas Eve. Dickens breathed life into his sharp characterization of a hard-hearted, bitter Ebenezer Scrooge and his subsequent striking transformation. In consideration of our special business issue, we offer these excerpts from the original “A Christmas Carol” illustrating Dickens’ notions on business and reinventing oneself.

On Scrooge’s business partner Jacob Marley’s death: “And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.”

On Scrooge: “The firm was known as Scrooge and Marley.

Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names: it was all the same to him.

Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasp12

Marley’s ghost, from Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol. Illustration by John Leech. 1843.

ing, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!

Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.”

Scrooge on Christmas: Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas!

What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in ‘em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.

He should!”

Nephew Fred’s thoughts on Christmas: And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”

Marley’s Ghost to Scrooge on business: “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.

“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.

The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

On Scrooge’s change for the better: “He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.”

So how’s your business? We join with Scrooge as he eventually comes to proclaim, “A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!”

Selections from “A Christmas Carol”, Charles Dickens, 1843

Photo Richard Beck, New Jersey Pine Barrens

THE UNIQUELY ADAPTED RED FOX The New Jersey Pine Barrens are home to many types of predators. One of these, the red fox, is unique in that it has elliptical (vertical slit) pupils like a cat (unlike most canid species such as wolves and coyotes) allowing an enhanced ability to detect movement in the dark. They also have incredibly sensitive hearing, an asset when stalking prey. Red foxes not only have longer whiskers like those of a cat, but also have whiskers on their legs to help them maneuver better in the dark. Unlike most canines, red foxes hunt alone. Meadow voles make up about half of their diet; the rest consists of small mammals, rodents, domestic poultry, gamebirds, reptiles and even fruits, berries and insects. For more information about the Pine Barrens, visit www.pinelandsalliance.org.

Richard Beck Photography

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DECONSTRUCT THIS!

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reg Trainor, founder of Philadelphia Community Corps, has a vision to which he is very passionately committed. His goal is to “utilize deconstruction as an engine for economic growth by creating jobs, removing blight, inspiring community driven neighborhood revitalization, and creating a hub of sustainable reuse.” That’s right, deconstruction. Cool concept.

According to their website, deconstruction is the systematic dismantling of a structure or its parts in the reverse order of construction. This method is used to salvage the building components, retain the highest value of the materials through reuse and/or recycling, and is an environmentally friendly alternative to demolition.

Greg Trainor (left) founder of In short, under the mantle of teaching building Philadelphia Community Corps deconstruction and recycling of those materials, Greg has implemented a novel job training program. Philadelphia Community Corps’ approach provides entry level job training for at-risk and underserved individuals otherwise facing barriers to employment. Through their partner programs, YouthBuild Philadelphia and PowerCorps PHL, trainees receive both in-class and on-site training from which they gain the skills and experience necessary to prepare for meaningful careers in material salvage, deconstruction and other building trade industries.

Greg first learned deconstruction himself as an AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Member working for several disaster response organizations on the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

He realized that what Philadelphia needed was an organization that can go through blighted neighborhoods clearing the abandoned housing, much the same way these organizations did.

Today, there are some 40,000 to 60,000 abandoned properties in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Community Corps is determined to make an impact on this problem.

“The city spends over $20 million each year in maintaining these properties, which also accounts for over $70 million in uncollected property taxes. These properties drive away investment, attract crime, and drag down property values city-wide by an estimated $3.6 billion, but there hasn’t been a solution profitable enough—or large enough in scale—to reverse the abandoned housing blight.”

Where others see urban blight, Greg Trainor sees opportunity. In addition to providing on-the-job training, the materials that they “harvest” from every deconstruction project are resold at very reasonable prices from their Building Materials Re-use Center at 150 W Butler St., Philadelphia, PA, 19140. Here they repurpose the lumber, bricks, doors, windows, mantels, cabinets, sinks as well as other unique, one-of-a-kind architectural items from these old buildings. Seems like a winwin for everyone.

For more information, including hours for the Re-use Center and how get involved, visit www. philadelphiacommunitycorps.org. They’ve also begun a crowdfunding campaign. Find out more on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/philadelphiacommunitycorps.

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THE CLOSEST YOU WILL EVER COME TO LIVING DINOSAURS!

DON’T MISS A THING

Subscribe Today!

Get the next six issues for only $20! www.jerseymanmagazine.com

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et closer to dinosaurs than ever before in Jurassic World: The Exhibition at the Franklin Institute. Based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history, the Exhibition immerses audiences of all ages in scenes inspired by the beloved film. Now, the park that was only a promise comes to life…right before your eyes.

Travel to Isla Nublar as a VIP guest and explore Jurassic World. Stare in wonder at a towering Brachiosaurus; come face-to-face with a Velociraptor; and get a rare up-close look at the most vicious dinosaur of them all, Tyrannosaurus rex.

Created in close collaboration with renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, the Exhibition is infused with interactive educational elements—drawn from the realworld science of dinosaur DNA that allowed Jurassic World to come to life. Visitors of all ages can now learn all about these incredible prehistoric creatures.

Don’t miss the awe-inspiring journey into Jurassic World. Now Open Through April 23, 2017 Visit www.fi.edu for tickets and hours 15

8th Annual Alex’s Lemonade Football Tournament – Lukens Field, Horsham, Pa. Dick Vermeil’s 80th Birthday Party – Birchrunville, PA

Team “Naked Bootleggers” welcomes donations until the end of December 2016.

Visit www.Alexslemonade.org/mypage/1219539.

A reunion of the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles and friends gathered for Coach Vermeil’s (pictured, front left) 80th birthday celebration.

JerseyMan Chairman’s Club Breakfast at PCS – Mt. Laurel, NJ

Carz N’ Toyz – Improving the quality of the hospital stay for children and their families.

Hug-A-Bear Foundation event – Centerton, NJ Left to right: Ray Gianantonnio, Carz N’ Toyz Secretary, Robert Recchiuti, Director, Sam Lacroce, President, Richard Miller, CEO Virtiua, Christina Mattison, Virtua.

Sam & Maria Lacroce presenting a toy to a sick child at Virtua.

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JerseyMan sales rep Terri Dunek

Feel Good PHILLY

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Stories to spark a smile…

Photo courtesy Mason Wartman

More Than a Slice

Mason Wartman of Rosa’s Fresh Pizza and his “Post-it” wall

Living Fearless

When: Every Saturday at 3 p.m. Where: Fearless Athletics, 744 S. 11th St. Philadelphia Want to know more? Email: melody@fearlessathletics.com

E ALL STRUGGLE. We all look for guidance. And we all possess the ability to pull strength from our most debilitating weakness and channel it into something powerful. Human Strength, a non-profit campaign,* has taken this idea and redefined how one can achieve it: one rep at a time. Their mission? To build free recovery support programs with CrossFit gyms across the country to support those who are healing from a substance use disorder and those who choose to pursue a sober lifestyle.

We bumped into them at Fearless Athletics located in South Philadelphia. Classes run every Saturday, at this location, beginning at 3pm.

Anyone who is in recovery for 48 hours or more is welcome to work out, regardless of experience or ability level. The enthusiasm that President and founder of Fearless Athletics William Vicinus and coach Melody Schofield have for the mission of the Human Strength program is a testament to the type of encouraging and positive atmosphere found inside the gym. If you know of someone struggling with substance use and is in recovery, have them check out this organization—they may “gain” much more than they ever imagined. n * Human Strength is an outreach program affiliated with Phoenix Multisport. Phoenix Multisport is a non-profit organization that fosters a supportive, physically active community for individuals who are recovering from a substance use disorder and those who choose to live sober. http://www.humanstrength.org/phoenix-multisport

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Photo Fearless Athletics Crossfit gym

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ASON WARTMAN, a local guy from Plymouth Meeting, PA, left his secure job on Wall Street in pursuit of an unconventional dream: to sell pizza by the slice for $1.

The now 28 year-old has established Rosa’s Fresh Pizza, named after his mother, and he is not only cranking out “the freshest slice in Philly,” he’s adding to the City of Brotherly Love, one post-it note at a time.

With Mason’s “pay-it-forward” program, customers can pre-purchase a slice of pizza for someone in need. Here’s how it works: your donation gets written on a post-it note and tacked up on the wall. Someone can come in, use a post-it as payment, and have the opportunity to enjoy a hot slice of pie.

The shop currently feeds 80 people a day, which comes out to about 160 slices.

Philadelphia alone has over 600 homeless individuals sleeping on the streets of the city. With more shops like Rosa’s and do-gooders like Mason, a single slice of pizza can make a big difference and helps to bring the community together.

When a customer who used a post-it as payment for their food was asked about the program, they responded with a message of hope. “You may not see the people’s face, but it gives you a sense of humanity that people care.”

If you’re interested learning more, check out Rosa’s Fresh Pizza’s website: www.rosasfreshpizza.com. Better yet, go for a visit, grab a slice, and post-it for someone to have one on you.

Rosa’s Fresh Pizza is located on 25th South 11th Street in Philadelphia.

BILL LYON ___________________________

Unstoppable

The Legend of Geno Auriemma

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e was named John R. Wooden and he came from basketball-mad Indiana across the country to California where he became the coach at the University of California Los Angeles, better known as UCLA, and almost before you could look up, he had created a bona fide dynasty and he was christened the Wizard of Westwood, which was the name of the arena in which he plied his magic, and if by now you are badly in need of oxygen then you know how it felt to play those Bruins of the Wizard, which left scorched earth behind them and took no prisoners and cemented the legend of the Wizard and was certain his like would forevermore remain unreachable…and so it was.

Until now.

Until Luigi Geno Auriemma.

Winner of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching award.

Yes, that Geno, the one of Norristown and the Avalon, New Jersey Genos. And the West Chester University and Bishop Kendrick High School and the Saint Joseph’s University Geno.

They all want to claim him; that’s what happens when you are elevated to legend status.

As coach of the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, he has revived the downtrodden and helpless, and molded them into a fearsome juggernaut.

As the Huskies began play this 2017 season, they were seeking their 12th national championship under Auriemma. No women’s team is close and only one men’s…that would be the UCLA Bruins who, under Wooden, won 10.

Can You Spell Unstoppable?

Others may aspire to raising the bar. UConn raises the raise. They don’t just beat their opponents, they obliterate them. Thirty point floggings are routine. And even as they ease up on the throttle, the margins rise…40…50…60….

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Unbeaten seasons: 6.

30-wins or-more seasons: 21.

Final Fours: 17.

Coach of the year: 7 times.

Wins in a row: 90.

And 70.

Ridiculous, isn’t it?

In his spare time, he has won 2 World Championships.

And 2 Olympic gold medals.

On a Fast Track

hen he was 7, Geno Auriemma’s family emigrated from Italy to Norristown. He graduated from West Chester and over the next 7 years was an assistant coach at Kendrick, Saint Joe’s and Virginia. In 1985 with one of those pinch-me-I-must be dreaming moments, he accepted the head coaching job at UConn.

Pretty heady stuff, huh? Head man at a bigtime program. Time for a serious wardrobe upgrade. In fact, it was the basketball version of Devil’s Island—in the whole Huskies history they had had one winning season.

One. Even the Wizard of Westwood would be hard pressed to turn that around.

It took Geno Auriemma one season.

One. His first year they went 12-and-15. It was his first losing season.

And the last.

How Did He Do That?

Well, first he recruited with a frenzy, convincing 18-year-old girls what a star-spangled opportunity awaited them. He was a spell binder. Almost overnight 5-star recruits flocked to Storrs.

Which made it convenient for the envious and the jealous to scoff and snipe: “Sure he wins, and why not, he gets all the great players.”

Well yes, he does get great players…but not ALL the great players. It’s self-perpetuating—

W Geno Auriemma bristles inwardly but bites his tongue and says: “I’m not asking you to watch… just don’t demean those who do appreciate it.”

If you want a snapshot of the UConn experience, consider Breanna Stewart, the latest in a long and illustrious line of Husky superstars: In her 4-year just-concluded career, they were 124-1. (And all but one was by 10 points or more.)

With four national championships.

In a row.

Take a Deep Breath… …And Start Counting Starting his 32nd year, Geno Auriemma’s record at UConn is: 955-134.

who wouldn’t go where you have a legitimate chance at winning a national championship every single year?

And it’s not like Geno Auriemma just rolls out the balls and tells them: “Go sic ‘em.”

That sneering slur strikes a familiar cord— it was precisely what the Wizard of Westwood used to hear when he recruited the likes of Ferdinand Lewis Alcinder…who would change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

John Wooden affected the pose of a prim and proper teacher, suit and tie, rolled up program used like a maestro’s baton, looking so composed, almost serene in contrast to his brethren, the Mad Men of March, who fling their wardrobes like helicopters and dance fandangos of rage.

I always wondered how the Wizard managed to remain so tranquil…and then one day I found myself seated directly behind him, second row, not 10 feet from the baseline, and each time one of the referees ran past him, the Wizard would lean forward and plead his case, in machine gun bursts: “Gimme a break…gimme a break…gimme a break…”

The moral of that is things are not always what they appear to be.

Now About Perfection…

o then, how do you stand on this business of utter domination? It has become the subject of impassioned debate ever since UConn began its run of sustained success.

Unwatchable, sniff the naysayers. Bad for women’s basketball. Bor-r-r-r-ing.

Geno Auriemma bristles inwardly but bites his tongue and says: “’I’m not asking you to watch…just don’t demean those who do appreciate it.”

Certainly a reasonable stance, though not likely to alter the perception.

Personally, I fall on the side of admiring perfection and appreciating all the sacrifices and dedication and blood, sweat and tears that are required. Revisit Breanna Stewart and her four years and consider this: One loss, one hundred twenty-four wins. You had, literally, one stumble in four years. Can you imagine all the things that had to go exactly right…and all the things that could have gone wrong?

The men’s game has evolved into acrobatics and has its pyrotechnic moments…until it’s time to attempt free throwing.

What I appreciate about Geno Auriemma is the way his players defend with a ravenous relentlessness. And how they make such a seamless transition from defense to offense…and vice-versa. And how they share the ball.

Sounds simple. Don’t be deceived, it isn’t.

But add it all up and it comes out to, well, perfection.

What’s not to like? n

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MOB SCENE

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BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

Garbage Mobsters Gone Green?

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OHN GURAL REMEMBERS the day agents from the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI) showed up at his city hall office in Palmyra.

“I got a call on the phone from Andy Cliver (the SCI attorney) who said they wanted to stop by,” said Gural, the former mayor who became the borough administrator in 2011. “They wanted me to look at some photos. When they got there they showed me what looked like pictures from a line-up. They asked me, ‘Have you seen any of these guys?’”

Gural said he had.

And that’s when he knew there were serious problems at the landfill.

“They looked like extras from The Sopranos,” Gural said.

The SCI has been tracking the mob’s involvement in the landfill business for more than half a century. Stringent licensing regulations now on the books are, in large part, the result of commission reports that over the years have detailed organized crime’s forays into trash hauling and solid waste disposal. The most recent report, in 2011, detailed the “hidden

to landscapers or homeowners. Instead, the SCI found, the landfill had accepted 380,000 cubic yards of construction waste—concrete, rebar and contaminated soil.

Most of it sits in piles at the site today. Whether any contaminants have leeched into the environment is one of several unanswered questions. Jersey Recycling stopped operating after the SCI opened its investigation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a cease and desist order.

But the damage has already been done.

Gural and other officials estimate the cost of cleaning up the property— which has long been considered an ideal location for an upscale residential and commercial redevelopment project—at more than $5 million.

“We’re still hopeful,” Gural said, adding that a potential developer has expressed interest and might be willing to foot the bill for the cleanup.

Jersey Recycling is owned by Bradley Sirkin, a one-time Staten Island resident now living in Florida. Authorities have described him as an associate of Philadelphia mob boss Joey Merlino, Bonanno crime family capo Peter Lovaglia and members of the Lucchese organization.

Jersey Recycling had leased the property and had a permit that allowed it to accept “clean” debris. Instead, the SCI found, the landfill had accepted 380,000 cubic yards of construction waste – concrete, rebar and contaminated soil. hand” that nearly a dozen organized crime figures had in the industry, including then Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi, who was described as one of several “garbage mobsters.”

As Lee Seglem, the acting director of the SCI said at a hearing back in May, “Profiting from society’s refuse has always been part of the mob’s twisted business model.”

The Palmyra story is a new twist in the old game.

This time the mob had gone green. When investigators showed up at Gural’s office back in 2013, they wanted to know about a company called Jersey Recycling Services that had been operating for nearly 18 months at an old landfill off Route 73 in Palmyra, NJ. The 104-acre site abuts the Palmyra Cove Nature Park and the Pennsauken Creek, and is a short distance from the Delaware River. In other words, it’s in an environmentally sensitive area.

Jersey Recycling had leased the property and had a permit that allowed it to accept 20,000 cubic yards of grass clippings, weeds and branches. The “clean” debris would be turned into mulch, and then sold 22

“He’s stayed under the radar,” one law enforcement source said of the 54-year-old Sirkin.

That changed this year.

he SCI hearing in May was followed by two indictments in August.

Sirkin was charged, along with Merlino and 44 other reputed mob members and associates, with racketeering conspiracy in a case now pending in federal court in Manhattan. He and six others are also under indictment in Tampa for money laundering and insurance fraud.

The SCI investigation described him as a close associate of Merlino’s.

The two met while both men were finishing up unrelated federal sentences in a halfway house in Florida.

When they were released, Sirkin and Merlino were constant companions, according to an SCI investigator who said that Sirkin “drove (Merlino) everywhere and frequented high end business establishments” as part of Merlino’s Florida entourage.

There is no indication that Merlino had any involvement in the recy-

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cling operation. But the SCI probe has tied mob associate Frank Gillette and a “Bonanno crime family capo” to Jersey Recycling. The SCI has not identified the capo by name, but law enforcement sources have confirmed it is Lovaglia.

It was the investigation of Gillette and his mob ties that led the SCI to Sirkin’s recycling business.

Gillette has been described as a “dirt broker,” an expediter who connects construction companies who have refuse that needs to be disposed of with landfills that might be able to accept the debris. In the legitimate world, this kind of operation can be very expensive since construction debris often includes cancer-causing contaminants that have to be processed and purified before they can be disposed of.

It’s a lot cheaper to avoid that process. And the mob has taken advantage of unscrupulous operators to do just that.

Gillette, according to the SCI investigation, was a key figure in an alleged illegal dumping operation in which debris from a Bronx construction site ended up on the waterfront in the Clifford Beach section of Old Bridge, NJ. Like Sirkin, Gillette has been described as an associate of Lovaglia, the short-tempered, Staten Island-based mob capo.

Lovaglia, authorities say, got a “no show” job at one of Gillette’s companies while on supervised release after serving time for extortion. The mob capo was arrested again last year for assaulting the owner of a Staten Island restaurant. Authorities charged Lovaglia with slashing open the restaurateur’s face with a broken cocktail glass.

The SCI contends that Gillette and Lovaglia were “partners with Sirkin and met with potential customers” to arrange business for Jersey Recycling. The investigation also uncovered a $50,000 check from Lovaglia to Jersey Recycling that was listed on company records as a “shareholder loan.”

Sirkin’s ties to Merlino go in a different direction.

He and Skinny Joey were linked in the Manhattan indictment to what authorities allege was a medical insurance scam involving compound cream prescriptions for pain relief. While the New York indictment is sketchy on details, a second indictment handed up in Tampa at the same time ties Sirkin and six others (but not Merlino) to a massive compound cream fraud in which insurance companies were allegedly bilked out of $157 million.

Sirkin, like Merlino and all the other defendants in the Manhattan and Tampa cases, has pleaded not guilty. Thus far, he has had little to say about any of the allegations.

He opted not to appear at the SCI hearing in May. After Sirkin’s lawyer told the SCI that his client would exercise his Fifth Amendment right and refuse to answer any questions, the SCI decided not to subpoena him.

Gillette was called to the hearing, but cited his constitutional right against self-incrimination and refused to respond to any questions posed

by Cliver, the SCI lawyer.

At that hearing, Seglem, the acting SCI director, said New Jersey’s “persistent reputation as a dumping ground” was based in large part on the mob’s ability to circumvent laws and regulations designed to police the waste disposal industry. The SCI, which led the fight for stronger licensing controls and guidelines in the trash and garbage businesses, is expected to call for tighter controls in the recycling industry in a report that will be issued shortly.

“Organized crime associates and convicted criminals,” Seglem said, have long been the architects of “toxic trafficking” in the Garden State.

Gural, from his office in Palmyra, got an up close view of the phenomenon.

He can only shake his head and offer an ironic smile as he recalls those mug shots investigators showed him back in 2013.

He thought they were right out of The Sopranos.

And as fans of that popular and highly relevant HBO mob drama may recall, mob boss Tony Soprano was described in more than one episode as a “solid waste management consultant.” n 23

GLEN MACNOW _________________________________________

1980: The Best of Times

I

t was the best of times, it was…

…Well, the best of times. Really. No doubt about it. Go back to 1980, if you would (and I wish we could), when all four Philadelphia pro sports teams reached the finals in their league. No other four-sport city before or since has accomplished that heady feat.

“It was an amazing year,” recalls Larry Bowa, the Phils shortstop from 1970-81. “I think one team would feed off the success of another. An incredible time for us—and the fans.”

It began in May 1980, when the Flyers fought for the Stanley Cup and the 76ers made the NBA Finals. That October, the Phillies reached the World Series. And three months later, the Eagles played in their first Super Bowl.

Granted, only the Phillies got a trophy, after Tug McGraw struck out Kansas City’s Willie Wilson in Game Six. But for that year, we were the sports world’s most-envied city.

I bring this up now because, well, I’ve got hope. All four franchises seem to be on the rise—although that’s not saying much, considering where they’ve been. There’s a part of me looking ahead to 2019 and envisioning a steady rainfall of confetti on Broad Street.

Delusional? Perhaps. But here’s my dream: The Eagles have landed the toughest thing to find in the NFL, a franchise QB in Carson Wentz. They have a defensive cornerstone in Fletcher Cox. Now let’s hope Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman can build a Super Bowl team around them.

The Sixers, well, you know the story. Years of tanking garnered Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and a few other viable pieces. If each can stay healthy and develop as projected, they could be a contender in two years.

The Flyers have three terrific youngsters in Shane Gostisbehere, Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny. They also have a stocked farm system.

Now, if only a goalie can be located . . .

The Phillies are the iffiest of the quartet. Two potential cornerstones— Maikel Franco and Aaron Nola—regressed in 2016. But their minor league teams played terrifically in 2016 and teem with raw prospects.

ey, I know that the probability of just one team making the finals in a given season is 1-out-of-15 (1-out-of-16 in the NFL). So the chances of all four? Exactly 1-out-of-54,000. Having one or more of the teams actually take the crown? Well, only folks who actually expect to win the state lottery believe in those kinds of odds.

Still, we did it once—although, with fewer pro franchises existing back in 1980, the odds were a mere 1-out-of-20,328.

“People just made a big deal of the (Cleveland) Cavs and Indians being there in the same year,” says Bowa. “But what happened here seems almost impossible. It was an era when every Philadelphia team just expected to win.”

Bowa recalls that the shared success of the era spurred players on all four franchises to become friends and root for each other.

“We would win a game at the Vet on Sunday, and then go watch the

Flyers at the Spectrum,” he says. “The hockey guys all loved baseball too.

We shared a locker room with the Eagles back then, so I’d kid around with Jaws (Ron Jaworski) and Herm Edwards.”

Philadelphia’s athletes were Masters of the Universe in 1980, hanging at the Philadium on Packer Avenue or Rexy’s in Haddon Township. Fans could buy them a drink or pose for a Kodachrome picture—and no one worried that a bothersome photo might show up on Twitter.

One other thing: Many of the heroes from that era stayed forever in our town. Go to any grand opening or charity event and there they are—Bowa and Greg Luzinski, Jaws and Bill Bergey, Bernie Parent and Bobby Clarke and the Watson Brothers.

“I still run into those other guys, and all of our conversations relate back to 1980,” says Bowa. “Yes, there was only one parade, but everybody came close. We talk about what it would have been like to have all four titles.”

Could it happen again? Hey, the math speaks for itself. Those odds are infinitesimal.

But a fan can dream, right?

If… Carson Wentz is for real and the Eagles build around him…

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid stay healthy and the Sixers find a point guard…

Flyers GM Ron Hextall finds that playoff-worthy goalie the franchise has been searching for since, well, Ron Hextall the player….

All of that promise the Phillies have playing in Reading and Clearwater can translate to the Majors…

Well, why not? Tell you what, check back with me in 2020. n

H

Photo Jamie Dunek

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THE ENTHUSIAST ______________________________________________________________________________________________

BY ANDREW RYAN

Make Punk Rock Great Again!

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F 26

You can put your political feelings aside, because as of this moment, the simple facts are our country is about to be run like a business, by a businessman, in a business suit. Not only that, but for the first time in recent memory, we have a president-elect who tweets when he gets pissed off. And the punk rockers around the world are salivating as they tune their guitars, every one of them thinking “You thought Hamilton was bad? I’ll give you something to f**kng tweet about.”

From The Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks to The Clash’s London Calling, undoubtedly the most influential punk records ever recorded Punk rock is and has always been, for the most part, socially progressive. And after eight years of uninterrupted mainstream progressivism, punk rock has become almost completely irrelevant. For the first time in the genre’s history, it seemed as though the country has been moving forward faster than punk bands could complain. The nation elected its Illustration by Dan Dinsmore

o Trump, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A!” chanted Billie Joe Armstrong during Green Day’s performance of ‘Bang Bang’ at the 2016 American Music Awards, predictably setting the internet ablaze. Both sides immediately took to their battle stations and began firing shots. The red team dusted off some of their old favorites, like, “Well if you hate America so much just move,” and “Entertainers should keep their mouths shut when it comes to politics,” (despite the fact the republican president-elect is himself an entertainer), whereas the blue team, just as predictably, fired back by calling the red team “Literally worse than Nazis,” and “racists” and everything in-between. And everyone else sat back and watched the bullets fly, asking themselves the same question they’ve been asking for the past year: how did we get here?

It’s certainly an interesting time to be alive.

Shipping is free but a side of guac costs $1.50.

Bono has been named in “Women of the Year” by Glamour, and the dude from Celebrity Apprentice will soon be the leader of the free world. It was only a few months ago that a Trump victory seemed as unlikely as Chris Christie ordering a medium anything, but he defied the pollsters, the pundits and the odds on his way to becoming president-elect of these United States. Say what you will about his approach to campaigning, but just like Sinatra, he did it his way. Half the country celebrates joyously, while the other half drowns their sorrows in alcohol and videos of cats on YouTube. But as the old refrain goes, it’s time to come together about the things we can all agree on as Americans, like how much everyone hates Nickelback.

or the first time in most of our lifetimes, Republicans will control the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House , which of course forecast some fairly foreseeable results, like fiscal conservatism.” But we can also expect fiscal conservatism, reduced regulations, an emphasis on state rights, and some f**king great puck rock.

IT TURNS OUT RAGING AGAINST THE MACHINE ISN’T QUITE AS EASY WHEN YOU ARE THE MACHINE. first African-American president. Pot has been fully or medically legalized in more than 25 states. The singer from the band Against Me! transitioned into a woman in between records and the country’s response was a resounding “been there, done that.” It turns out raging against the machine isn’t quite as easy when you are the machine. Obama’s progressive executive orders probably killed more punk records than disco did during the late seventies.

But as the pendulum of democracy is wont to do, the nation now seems poised to swing back to more socially conservative values. And that, my fellow countrymen, is what it will take in order to Make Punk Rock Great Again.

Whether you loved it or hated it, the last truly great American punk record was Green Day’s massively ambitious punk rock opera American Idiot, which was released in September of 2004. Even the title of that record was punk—a huge middle finger pointed directly at the most powerful man in the world via the fattest, most

clunky, barely-disguised “eff-you” ever penned.

One lyric in particular from the album’s titular track sums up everything that made that album and punk rock in general great: “Well maybe I’m the f****t, America / I’m not a part of a redneck agenda.” When Billie Joe sang that extremely provocative lyric, we were living in a world where gay marriage was not nationally recognized and our president rode horses like a cowboy. It was a lyric as devastating (and about as accurate) as a carpet bombing. Vicious, powerful, provocative language directed squarely at those in charge in order to call attention to a progressive cause. For every one mind changed, twenty innocent bystanders got offended. And for every parent they pissed off, one long-haired teen would smirk behind their backs, and for the first time feel like they were part of a real conversation, part of something that really mattered.

American Idiot tackled every issue from media-turned-propaganda to the North American empire to the novocaine-like numbness of post 9/11 middle-class suburbia, and it tackled those issues so well because it was written from a place of real anger—anger in being the little guy, anger in being dismissed as “fringe,” anger in disagreeing so vehemently with the leaders elected to represent us all. Punk rock had a common enemy back then in mainstream conservatism, and whether you agree with their message or not, we can all agree that punk just sounds better when coming from a place of real, unabashed anger.

And just as half the country finds a longneeded ally in the new president-elect, punk will once again face a new enemy and become great again. We don’t always have to agree about everything, and in this music journalist’s humble opinion, punk rock gets a hell of a lot more interesting when we don’t. n

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GET FIT

______________________________________________________________________________________________

BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

Dry Get Cheerios Out!

I Photo Jamie Dunek

conic movies like, Cinderella Man, Rocky and Million Dollar Baby spotlight the rise of an underdog boxer. The fights are packed with screaming fans, flashing lights… blood, sweat and tears of the competing athletes.

They are… stories of true inspiration.

They are… stories of true talent.

They are… Jerome, “The Conqueror” Conquest.

Pro boxer Jerome Conquest, who has fought in 16 amateur and 8 pro fights, was born in January, 1986 as one of six kids to parents Theresa Waters and David “Ace” Conquest Jr. in North Philadelphia.

Thanks to his athletic background, he was able to channel his energy into sports instead of trouble… leading him to a local boxing gym in the heart of North Philly.

The author training with Wade Hinnant at Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Philly

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At first glance, Joe Hand Boxing Gym might look like just another ordinary gym, but as soon as you go inside, it’s easy to see that you’ve stepped foot into some place quite legendary.

Bernard Hopkins, Meek Mill, Eddie Alvarez and Usher are just a few of the big-time names that have come through and trained with some of the best, in and out of the ring.

Portraits of famous boxers like Muhammad Ali, George Benton and Joe Frazier are hung up on the walls of the establishment, and serve as a reminder to those training of perseverance, hard work and sacrifice.

But the gym is more than just boxing. Located in Northern Liberties, Joe Hand stands as a safe haven for children and young adults, doubling as a non-profit organization to help keep kids off the streets. A computer lab is set up inside adjacent to the boxing rings and the kids

“ I train myself to eat dry cheerios.”

Jerome Conquest (R) with trainer Wade Hinnant

aren’t allowed to participate in any training unless their homework is finished. Trainer Maleek Jackson runs what is truly a special program for these kids Aside from Maleek, Danny Davis, Wade Hinnant and Randy Hinnant are among the few that Conquest praises.

“You either got a trainer, a teacher or a coach,” says Conquest. “I see Wade as a teacher. Training at Joe Hand Boxing Gym is a blessing. When no one else gave me a chance, Wade took me in and trained me into the fighter I am today. I came to the gym with heart, but no skills. Wade and Randy put that skill into my arsenal.”

Now, with his success in boxing, Conquest spends time speaking publically and teaching kids to aim for a different life than the one out on the streets.

When asked about his routine, he shares that he trains 7 days a week for three hours after work, which includes an hour and half sessions with his teachers (Wade and Randy).

Also, he accomplishes 30 minutes of jumping rope, shadow boxing and strength and conditioning with his brother, Germaine. “The mind and body are powerful tools,” he says.

“I train myself to eat dry cheerios,” says Conquest. “It’s all mental, that way I can tell myself I don’t want it anymore. My trainer says I could use soy milk but I don’t want it cause then I’ll For more guidance follow Alexandra @TipsFromAFitChick on Instagram!

get used to it and want more. I eat it dry.”

I had the opportunity to step in the ring with former 1975 pro Wade Hinnant while Conquest practiced on a nearby punching bag.

Halfway through my session, Wade shouted at Conquest; he listened while still practicing and responded accordingly.

Wade then turned to me and said, “Do you know what that was?”

I shook my head no.

“That was trust.”

Welcome to boxing. n

Joe Hand Boxing Gym is located on 547 N. Third St. in Philadelphia They offer personal training packages and gym memberships.

Check them out at www.joehandgym.com or call at (215) 271-4263 for more information.

The gym is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For those interested, donations can be made by calling 215-364-9000.

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O

BY JAN L. APPLE

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A Real Pick-me-up Uber & Lyft Have Revolutionized Transportation in Philadelphia

On a recent Saturday night, a group of Temple University students were contemplating attending a party across town at the University of Pennsylvania. Debating transportation options from North Philly to University City, one student asked: “Do you want to Uber?�

Uber has become a worldwide phenomenon, operating in 58 countries around the globe. According to uber.com, the San Francisco based company, founded as UberCab in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp (co-founder of StumbleUpon) sprung from an idea on a snowy night in Paris in 2008. It was there that Kalanick and Camp became increasingly frustrated when trying to hail a cab. They devised a simple idea – why not tap your smart phone to get a ride!

As of June 2016, it is estimated that 50 million riders have taken more than 2 billion rides in 522 cities. The ride-sharing service continues to innovate, utilizing technology to deliver a wide array of services, including the introduction of self-driving vehicles.

Uber in Philadelphia • UberPOOL: most affordable option, shared rides; up to 2 people •U berX: affordable, everyday rides, seats up to 4 •U berXL: affordable, everyday rides, seats up to 6

come a way for people to drive their own vehicles while making a part-time income. And Lyft, which debuted in Philadelphia in January 2015 (see box), its competition, has also seen a rapid increase in riders and part-time drivers.

“Uber and Lyft have created jobs and second and third incomes for people,” said Rashaad Lambert, owner of the Sporty Marketing Group and former brand ambassador for Uber. “They have revolutionized transportation in the city.”

Uber and Lyft apps must be downloaded onto a smart phone before a person can schedule a ride. A credit card is kept on file and each time someone takes a ride, the charge is added. There is no cash outlay. When first downloading the app, Uber provides a promotional code, allowing for a credit—typically about $15—that can be used toward a free ride.

When UberBLACK sedans rolled out on city streets, Lambert, an award-winning digital marketing professional, was tapped to create brand awareness in the City of Brotherly Love. When he received an e-mail inviting him to attend a meeting about the concept, Lambert recalls that he’d heard of the service, but had never ridden in an Uber. He accepted the challenge to spread the word and did so by talking up the concept at corporate events, managing offsite activations, promoting the brand’s major selling points:

Lambert

passengers or in a carpool to work.

“Uber and Lyft are the response to the public outcry about the terrible service the cab companies have been giving for years,” said Lambert.

“They’ve ignored it, refused to reform, refused to investigate. They are just not up to par with where we are as a society in 2016. It shouldn’t have taken Uber or Lyft to develop an app.”

Lambert is referring to the fact that some taxi cab companies have recently created apps to keep pace with the trend.

•U berWAV: wheelchair accessible rides •U berBLACK: premium rides, seats up to 4 •U berSUV: premium rides, seats up to 6 •U berEATS: a separate app that allows people to order delivery from over 100 local restaurant partners

The ridesharing transportation service, officially called UberX (seating up to 4 passengers) has become so popular since it debuted in the city in October 2014, that its name has made its way into everyday vocabulary as a verb.

The service was actually first introduced here in 2012 with its more upscale luxury black car option—UberBLACK. Just over the river in South Jersey, UberX was launched in Camden, Gloucester and Burlington Counties in April 2014.

Once UberX hit the streets of Philly, there was no turning back. Suffice it to say, the concept caught on. And much like a domino effect, it continues to do so in record numbers. It is estimated that thousands of residents use the ridesharing app on a daily basis. According to Craig Ewer, Uber spokesperson, in the past three months, about half a million people in Philadelphia rode in an Uber.

The company has not only diversified its transportation choices (see box), it has fast be-

Although Uber and Lyft have become household names to many and are clearly the wave of the future, it’s no secret there has been controversy surrounding whether they were operating legally within city limits. convenience, safety, ease, affordability.

Another valuable feature of the app, Lambert stressed, is the fact that one’s home address can be saved. So, if someone is out on a Friday or Saturday night—perhaps attending a party where there is drinking—a simple tap on their phone can get them home safely. “It’s like having a private driver,” he said. And since 2013, “DUIs are actually down by 18 percent,” said the 29-year-old Philadelphia resident who attributes this to Uber and Lyft. In fact, it was a result Lambert predicted.

Y

et, it’s not just millennials who are tapping an app to secure dependable, timely transportation or a responsible designated driver after a night of partying. People of all ages are finding UberX and Lyft the answer to what was once a frustrating and uncertain dash to get to a desired location—whether solo, with several

Alison Noon, 20, a junior at Temple University, describes Uber as a reasonably priced alternative to the city’s subway system and taxis.

“It’s easy and convenient,” said Noon who likes the option of door-to-door service and the fact that pricing is typically provided ahead of time.

Although Uber and Lyft have become household names to many and are clearly the wave of the future, it’s no secret there has been controversy surrounding whether they were operating legally within city limits—Philadelphia County.

As their popularity soared, there was a financial impact on the city’s taxi cab industry. In July 2016, the Greater Philadelphia Taxi Association brought a lawsuit against the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). The association accused the ridesharing companies of operating illegally and infringing on their business. They wanted the PPA to ban the services and impose a fine.

That same month, according to Ewer: “The legislature passed a 3-month temporary authorization for UberX to operate in Philadelphia 31

Pennsylvania Governor Wolf signs law legalizing ride-sharing statewide

County, allowing us to support the city during the SEPTA rail disruption and the Democratic National Convention. That authorization expired on September 30. Soon after, (Court of Common Pleas) Judge Linda Carpenter issued a cease and desist order against UberX. We remained operational while our appeal was pending and on October 7, the cease and desist was halted by a judge in a higher court.”

Lambert offers insight on the legal debate: “Uber and Lyft were technically operating legal-

32

ly. There was nothing that said they couldn’t do it. At the time they started, if you were starting a cab company—you needed a medallion. But since Uber began as a limousine service, they didn’t fall under the same category. In addition, Uber and Lyft didn’t own any vehicles and still don’t. They never purchased cars or tried to develop a fleet. It’s an on demand service.”

Safety and accountability are also topics of concern. Lambert, like many city residents, feels much safer in an Uber than a taxi. “When you’re

Lyft evolved from Zimride, a long distance ridesharing company. Operating in over 200 cities with about 315,000 drivers across the country, it is estimated that Lyft has provided 100 million rides since its inception in 2012. According to Mary Caroline Pruitt, Lyft spokesperson: “Lyft was founded as the first peer-to-peer transportation platform with a vision of reconnecting people and communities through better transportation.” At any given time, she notes, 80 percent of the seats in cars on the road are unoccupied. By filling these seats, says Pruitt, the San Francisco based company hopes to make a significant impact on cities and the future of transportation with an ultimate goal of reducing traffic congestion.

Lyft in Philadelphia • Lyft: a personal ride with 1 to 4 people • Lyft Line: enabling passengers en route to the same destination to share the ride at a discounted price.

• Lyft Plus: a personal ride in a larger car with at least six seats

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in a cab, no one knows where you are unless you report it,” he said. In an Uber, a person’s location is being monitored via the app.

On October 24, all speculation was put to rest. Legislation was passed, resolving the uncertainties. A statement released from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf read: “I am pleased the legislature worked with me to finally pass a long-term solution for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate everywhere in Pennsylvania. (Philadelphia was the only place the service had not been authorized).

The commonwealth has proven to be a place where these companies can invest and grow, and we must continue to find ways to fuel the development of these and other high-tech companies.” Wolf’s statement not only applauded the resolution, it underscored that two-thirds of all revenue from ridesharing services in the city will now go to the struggling Philadelphia School District to “help the district continue to strengthen its financial footing.”

Just days after the legislation passed, on November 1, Septa workers went on strike. Uber and Lyft were busier than ever. Lyft spokesperson Mary Caroline Pruitt says there was a 46 percent increase in rides in just one day. “Two thousand new passengers took their first (Lyft) ride on November 1.”

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When demand outweighs the number of available drivers, Uber’s typical competitive pricing changes to dynamic pricing. When dynamic pricing kicks in, Uber drivers are incentivized to head to those areas.

Ewer explains that when demand outweighs the number of available drivers, Uber’s typical competitive pricing changes to dynamic pricing: “Uber drivers decide when and where to work, so when dynamic pricing kicks in, they’re incentivized to head to those areas. Dynamic pricing is the algorithm that raises fares when rider demand outstrips available drivers.”

A

nother victory occurred in early November, notes Ewer, as a Pennsylvania federal judge dismissed the lawsuit originally brought by the taxi association.

And in Harrisburg, on November 4, surrounded by a number of bill supporters, Wolf signed Senate Bill 984. In a released statement, Wolf said: “This bill puts an end to any question about these companies operating in our Commonwealth, especially in Philadelphia. The

bill also protects consumers with background checks and thorough vetting for drivers, making sure we are doing all we can to keep riders safe and secure.” Drivers are now required to carry insurance and must undergo criminal background checks.

In the statement, bill sponsor State Sen. Camera Bartolotta said that the legislation recognizes the growing demand for these services. “Companies like Uber and Lyft have revolutionalized the way that many transportation needs are met.”

Described as a win-win, bill supporter State Sen. Vincent Hughes concluded: “This is a victory for Philadelphia’s consumers, but it’s also a victory for our schools. I am very proud that the majority of the tax revenue generated by ride-sharing will go to the Philadelphia School District. Our schools need every dollar that we can find.” n Visit www.uber.com or www.lyft.com

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36

KINDNESS OF STRANGERS THE

CROWDFUNDING SITES LIKE GOFUNDME, KICKSTARTER, AND INDIEGOGO HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS OF CAUSES… AND IT’S TURNED OUT TO BE AN EXTREMELY LUCRATIVE BUSINESS MODEL.

BY KURT SMITH

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OT VERY LONG AGO, arranging a benefit involved considerable footwork.

You organized a golf tournament or pancake breakfast to raise money for the ailing and downtrodden. Or sold candy bars to pay for your kid’s Little League uniforms. Or peddled raffle tickets that people bought with internal groans, knowing they weren’t going to win the cruise.

It was difficult enough fundraising for people with genuine, maybe even life-threatening needs. Everyone wants to help the sick child.

Try inviting folks to an overpriced spaghetti dinner to subsidize your drifter nephew’s musical career.

Today, if you have enough Facebook friends, you can raise money to help a blind man keep a retiring seeing-eye dog, lessen the medical bills of Boston Marathon bombing victims, or finance the first new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in almost 20 years. All without leaving your doorstep.

It’s called “crowdfunding” and it’s booming.

Out of dozens of crowdfunding sites, GoFundMe is arguably the biggest household name…it was valued at around $600 million when the founders sold it in June of 2015.

Like most such outfits, GoFundMe collects a portion of each donation, usually 5 percent, as the fee for its services, plus a payment processing fee of about 3 percent. For the $7.8 million (and counting) raised for victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting alone, GoFundMe took in a cool $624,000 in fees for one campaign.

GoFundMe is not a philanthropic entity.

Nor does it pretend to be. It is a profit-driven company; the majority of donations are not taxdeductible.

If users and donors have a problem with this, most of them haven’t said so. Probably because it works: the profit motive benefits the philanthropists. It’s in GoFundMe’s interest to increase donation amounts. That they do very well.

GoFundMe has an easy-to-use interface to create a page and tell one’s story, the ability to easily share it on social media, and a secure donor payment system. They offer a primer with

The “Benefit Corporation” Remember when President George W. Bush ran as the “compassionate conservative”? The term implied that conservative = heartless. It was Dubya’s outreach to that “middle ground” voter. It might have been disingenuous or paradoxical, but the compassionate conservative did win two terms as president.

Similarly, the term “corporation” doesn’t have a great connotation these days; the words “corporate America” are usually enough to create those visions…a heartless board of directors caring only about stock prices and paying CEOs multi-million dollar bonuses after laying off hundreds of employees.

Kickstarter recently submitted the paperwork to become a “Benefit Corporation,” a seemingly paradoxical appellation that actually has some literal meaning. A Benefit Corporation is a real type of business, not just a feel-good phrase to direct attention away from the size of the profits. A Benefit Corporation must not only abide by laws of corporations, but must also follow standards based on the common good.

According to Wikipedia, a Benefit Corporation must consider the impact of its decisions not just for the stockholders, but also the society and the environment. How that is determined varies by state, but is usually judged by an independent third party.

As Kickstarter notes on its website: “Benefit Corporations are for-profit companies that are obligated to consider the impact of their decisions on society, not only shareholders. Radically, positive impact on society becomes part of a Benefit Corporation’s legally defined goals.”

GoFundMe and Indiegogo haven’t made the jump yet to following a stricter standard for the public good. But the move of states to create additional statutes is increasing.

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A Glimpse Into The Future With all of the advances in technology in the last 20 years, imagine what life will be like 20 years from now. Indiegogo can give you at least a potential idea with some of the ongoing projects featured in their tech section: MOKA 360 – The Moka 360 is the “world’s smallest 360 camera.” It is a camera that looks to be about two inches square, and it can take a full 360 video of its surroundings at the touch of a button. It has a magnet and can be mounted onto any metal surface, and can stream live video to your tablet. Private detectives will love this one. Current amount raised: $88,668.

FIZZICS WAYTAP (right) – This one’s already available…John Vaskis at Indiegogo mentioned it to me: “I own one and love it,” he says. It’s a device that takes bottled or can beer and uses sound waves (!) to create “from the tap” style beer, with a nice foamy head and much denser bubbles. The company says that the foam “creates a seal for the body of the beer, locking in the carbonation so the flavor stays fresh from the first sip to the last.”

Current amount raised: $1,180,444.

ACTON BLINK eBOARD – Remember the hoverboards from Back To The Future II? That might not be very far away. The Acton Blink is an electric skateboard…it can go 22 miles per charge and has 4-wheel drive for hill climbing power. The Blink is actually designed for commuters…it’s got bright wheels to enable you to “stand out in style.” Ever go 23 MPH on a skateboard? The Acton can do it. Current amount raised: $409,031.

TRAVELMATE ROBOT SUITCASE – Wouldn’t you love to use the Force to move your luggage through the airport instead of dragging it? The Travelmate suitcase can cruise along and follow you wherever you go. It can move at a clip of 6.75 MPH, which is probably faster than most people can walk, and it’s smart enough to avoid tripping people in the airport. The best part? You can put another bag on top of it. Current amount raised: $8,361.

SILENT PARTNER (left)– You knew this one would top a million bucks raised. It’s a smartpatch that quiets snoring by creating a “quiet zone” around the snorer: it senses the snoring sound and creates a counter sound to cancel the snore sound.

There is a physics name for that phenomenon – destructive interference. The company calls it “subwavelength active noise cancellation.” Current amount raised: $1,424,086.

There’s a whole plethora of cool products like this…you can check them out in the “Tech” section of Indiegogo.com.

fact-based advice, like how sharing a campaign on Facebook increases donations by 350 percent. If your tale is particularly touching, GoFundMe will feature it on the front page, to be viewed by thousands of altruistic-feeling types.

GoFundMe is phenomenally successful because of the stories themselves…like making a home accessible for an Annapolis woman who defeated Hodgkin’s twice, only to become paralyzed by treatments. Or finding a residence for the homeless Boston man who discovered a bag containing $42,000 and returned it to its owner. Or enabling an 89-year-old Chicago gentleman to finally retire from selling popsicles on the streets. Anytime you think the world is full of selfishness and greed, visit GoFundMe and see countless stories of tragedy, inspiration, and astounding human generosity.

However fabulously wealthy that makes the owners of GoFundMe, 8 percent of donations going to expenses is better than most philanthropic organizations manage. According to Charity Watch, American Red Cross uses 10 percent of donations for overhead, while the 38

ACLU sets aside a full 24 percent…which is still good enough for an A- rating. Few well-known charities operate at less than 8 percent.

GoFundMe’s focus is generally helping the less fortunate, but if you are looking to finance your new invention or book project, Kickstarter is more up your alley.

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spiring entrepreneurs approaching venture capitalists may make for entertaining television, but there’s a reason ABC’s hit show is called “Shark Tank”.

In the show, naïve hopefuls strut into a room of wealthy business folks to menacing music, as if they have no inkling of the psychological carnage in store for them. Mere minutes after executing an entertaining introduction of their product, resourceful inventors flail helplessly as the Sharks pounce on their weaknesses and one by one bow out of supporting their lifelong dream.

Imagine bypassing hat in hand encounters

with tycoons whose only interest is becoming wealthier, and going directly to the masses to evaluate the market instead…which would probably show you whether a product will sell better than even the owner of QVC could.

Thanks to Kickstarter, it’s now just as easy to ask 1,000 people to contribute $25 to your project as it is to ask one person to contribute $25,000. All you need to reach that niche market is a description of your ultra-cool product with a few videos, and maybe some sweet perks for larger donors. Set a goal; if you reach it, the demand is probably there. What could be more free market capitalism?

Kickstarter shows that there can be an audience for almost anything one enjoys creating, no matter how offbeat it may seem. One current project is an album of jazz interpretations of Nintendo NES video game themes. Before you ask what kind of nostalgic screwball pines for a jazz version of Legend of Zelda music, you should know that that campaign has raised $7,725 as of this writing, and is less than a thousand dollars away from being fully funded.

Yes, someone wants that.

Enabling dreams helps Kickstarter do pretty well with their bottom line too. At any moment, a visitor can view how much money has been committed to projects and how many projects have been successfully funded in the company’s history. As this sentence was written, those numbers are $2,707,572,645 and 114,642, respectively. Not bad for a company that employs just 115 people.

While GoFundMe allows users to keep all of the donations received whether a goal is reached or not, Kickstarter requires users to reach their stated goal or collect nothing. Kickstarter stresses that this is a good thing…it attaches motivation to get to the finish line when one is facing a fruitless campaign otherwise.

And as a Kickstarter rep explains, “not reaching your goal can be very useful information.”

Kickstarter also deliberately avoids the type of charitable fundraisers that appear on GoFundMe…a potential donor could be conflicted seeing a disaster relief campaign next to a film idea they like. Indiegogo, which bills itself as “the largest global crowdfunding and fundraising site online,” doesn’t seem to mind this.

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oes GoFundMe’s keeping a twentieth of what you raised for the cancer patient trouble you? If your cause is a charitable one, Generosity by Indiegogo collects only payment processing fees and charges no other fees. Your only challenge to keep that 5 percent is convincing your Facebook audience that Indiegogo is as reputable as

ANYTIME YOU THINK THE WORLD IS FULL OF SELFISHNESS AND GREED, VISIT GOFUNDME AND SEE COUNTLESS STORIES OF TRAGEDY, INSPIRATION, AND ASTOUNDING HUMAN GENEROSITY. GoFundMe, which isn’t difficult.

Otherwise, Indiegogo’s focus is entrepreneurial ideas. But unlike Kickstarter, Indiegogo isn’t “all or nothing;” should a goal be reached, users collect all of it minus a 4 percent fee, as opposed to 5 percent on Kickstarter. Users can also cut their losses. Should the goal not be reached, they can keep what they have raised, this time for a 9 percent fee. The pressure is still there, but it isn’t as great…and might not be as motivational.

That doesn’t stop people from using Indiegogo, partly because of other advantages the company offers. Indiegogo, for example, allows a campaign to continue raising money after its end date. According to John Vaskis, Indiegogo’s head of Hardware, Technology and Design Outreach, “Entrepreneurs can raise more money on Indiegogo than anywhere else, because we are the only platform that provides pre-sales

and retail options even after their crowdfunding campaigns end.”

One great example of this is Solar Roadways—yes, roads made from solar panels that melt snow and are lit with LEDs. Even in the face of some scientifically-based skepticism, Solar Roadways has raised over $2.2 million, and is now an ongoing “InDemand” Indiegogo campaign.

Should that one work out nationally, it would probably be worth Indiegogo’s 4 percent cut.

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rowdfunding eliminates a great deal of fundraising stress…not just by avoiding face-to-face rejection from humans with a lifetime of practice saying no, but also eliminating the fatigue from repeating a troubling story or elevator pitch.

When Tina Ottaviano of Mantua Township, NJ learned that her son Braison was diagnosed with a brain tumor (which has since, thankfully, stabilized—Braison is doing quite well), she set up a webpage through CaringBridge.org to tell his story and raise money for treatments. CaringBridge is not a crowdfunding site per se, but they do link journals to GoFundMe pages if users desire.

“As much as I appreciated people asking me about Braison,” she says, “it was draining on me.

Sometimes I just didn’t want to talk about it.”

With CaringBridge, Ottaviano could “just give people the link, which would send email notifications when I made an update. Then people would tell other people I set up an external fund account to help raise money with all the costs.

“It was very successful.”

It takes a special kind of personality trait to coax hard-earned money from people, even for an undeniably worthy cause, that many of us lack. We’re too proud to ask without offering a chance to win a ski resort vacation in return.

We’re all aware how irritating telemarketers are.

Sites like GoFundMe, Kickstarter and Indiegogo almost effortlessly target the audience for raising needed dough, and they enable a campaigner to agonize over the story just once.

Their balance sheets reflect a spectacularly grateful world. n

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PROFILE

Photo illustration Steve I.

ALTERNATING

The Fisker EMotion luxury EV boasts a 400 mile range and a 161 mph top speed

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CURRENT

photos henrikfisker.org

Henrik Fisker is Plugged In and Loving It

BY NICK SANTANGELO 41

‘‘

PROFILE

I believe that the future is about having a society that allows us a freedom of choice. So I don’t believe we should force everybody to drive an electric car... but I do think that if we do have electric cars, why not have some cool ones?”

I

N A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO for the Philadelphia Eagles, retired player Brian Dawkins said last year that he didn’t believe the old adage about not ever having to really work if you love what you do. “I think if you love what you do, you’re going to work all day, every day, harder than everyone else until they shut the lights off on you,” he said.

To my knowledge, Dawkins and Henrik Fisker aren’t acquaintances, but the American football player and the Danish designer would seem to have a shared philosophy when it comes to work. “I just love my work, and I like to be really busy, and I guess when you’re having fun you just kind of end up working seven days a week when you have passion for it,” says Fisker of how he’s found the time of late to design a supercar, even a superyacht, a pair of electric cars and more.

Though famous within the automotive industry for his beautiful, aggressively designed—and priced—playthings for the rich, Fisker isn’t exactly a household name. Fisker 42

– HENRIK FISKER

VLF Force 1

doesn’t immediately draw to mind the same sort of cachet as Elon Musk, whose Tesla Motors company Fisker was briefly associated with. But perhaps that’s about to change. The man who’s designed gorgeous Aston Martins and BMWs announced a pair of his own electric vehicles this year, with one set to be the new market leader in battery range and the other targeting a relatively affordable $30,000 to $35,000 price point.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

Alternating Current Before examining Fisker’s latest projects, let’s take a look at how we got here. Back in 2011, Fisker’s former enterprise, Fisker Automotive, was one of the first companies to bring

a luxury plug-in hybrid car to consumers, the Fisker Karma. Tesla had begun selling its own fully electric pluggable luxury auto, the Roadster, three years prior and contracted Fisker to design a successor. It didn’t quite work out, and the two split in less-than-harmonious fashion: Tesla Motors filed a suit alleging Fisker Automotive had purloined electric vehicle (EV) trade secrets from it. But an arbitrator eventually ruled in Fisker’s favor, stating that Tesla’s claims had been “baseless and neither brought nor pursued in good faith.” Tesla even ended up having to shell out $1.14 million to cover Fisker’s legal fees.

That, as they say, was then. This is now: Tesla’s Model S and Model X are the standard bearers for electric vehicles, with its massmarket Model 3 expected to ride an enormous wave of preorders to a late-2017 release. Mean-

photos henrikfisker.org

A

SIDE FROM CARS, one of Fisker’s other recent designs is a superyacht created in partnership with Italian company Benetti. So how does a car designer end up designing a ship? Well, Fisker says his motto is “never give up,” and that when he wants something, he figures out a way to make it happen. So it was that he found himself sharing glasses of rosé in the south of France with Benetti executives. “And we were just talking that evening, and it ended up being ‘Yeah, why don’t we do a yacht together?’”

Just like that, a 12-guest, 164-foot superyacht was born. Well, maybe not just like that—Fisker had to learn from Benetti’s naval architects how to design something that would actually work in the water. But work it will: Fisker promises the Benetti Fisker 50, which was “designed to be the perfect space of luxury” will actually hit the water, not just the showroom.

while, even traditional automotive companies like Chevy are now in the EV game, and Fisker—after selling only a few hundred EVs and being forced to declare Fisker Automotive bankrupt in 2013—is poised to take another crack at EVs. Why is he trying again? Well, as Fisker moved on to other projects over the past few years, he felt there was still an unfulfilled opportunity for an “exciting” and “innovative” EV. He remembers the EV industry as having been like the Wild West when Fisker Automotive was in business, with Tesla being the only

Benetti Fisker 50

other company with real skin in the game. The market has expanded here in 2016, though it remains a niche category, with EVs having reached a single percentage point of all US new car sales for the first time in June.

Fisker sees an opening “to create a really exciting electric vehicle and really emphasize that emotional connection between the consumer and the car. And that’s something you find of course in extreme sports cars, you find that amazing connection. How do we do that in an EV? Because you don’t have a gear shift, you don’t have the loud gasoline engine, so how else can we create that emotional connection?

“And for me also, I believe that the future is about having a society that allows us a freedom of choice. So I don’t believe we should force everybody to drive an electric car. I think we should have freedom of choice. So for me, if I’m part of putting more electric cars on the road, that will ultimately mean that you don’t need to worry so much about some gasoline sports cars or V8 muscle cars driving around, because we will eliminate so much of our emissions by having electric cars, so we can have a freedom of choice with gasoline cars if we want. I really strongly believe in that, so I’m not the extreme

guy who says we all have to drive electric cars, but I do think that if we do have electric cars, why not have some cool ones?”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

Cool, But Combustible Speaking of V8s, Fisker’s other venture, VLF Automotive, has one of those too—and also a V10. The latter, a 745-horsepower beast of a luxury sports car that was unveiled earlier this year, was restrained in production but not the slightest in design. The car has giant wheels, an immensely wide body, wild curves and air vents so obvious they could aptly be described as exhibitionistic.

Fisker credits VLF’s structure as a boutique manufacturer for allowing him to push the design envelope. His supercar would have looked much different if he’d had to work with a marketing team or board of directors at a larger manufacturer.

“The car would have been narrower because there are all kinds of arguments for parking spaces and this and that, which we really didn’t care about, quite frankly. It was all about making 43

PROFILE

the coolest car on earth and really just making a powerful car in terms of looks.”

At VLF, he was free to design something with a “dramatic stature” that was as wide and low as he wanted it to be. Every large company, Fisker explains, has a preset list of rules that all product designs must abide by.

And though he has operated under those rules when working for traditional car companies in the past, Fisker’s design sensibility is naturally more flamboyant.

“Well, look, I’m never really subdued,” he says, and one glance at his EV, the EMotion, confirms as much. You might think of an electric car as something likely to look more utilitarian than a supercar, something concerned with being eco-friendly and battery-efficient first and everything else second. Not so with the EMotion. Fisker says both a breakthrough with graphene batteries—most EVs use lithium-ion batteries—and the car’s design will contribute to EMotion’s astonishing 400-mile range, but that hasn’t resulted in a subdued appearance. At all.

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This thing is bold, and in some ways that are only made possible by its nature as an EV. For instance, because the EMotion has no internal combustion engine in need of cooling, it has no grille.

It’s difficult to argue against the EMotion being the most chic EV to date. But even though he’s trying to simultaneously convince people that electrics can be cool status symbols with the EMotion and commercially viable with the more modestly priced EV to be unveiled next year, Fisker thinks there’s room for both electric and gasoline-powered cars in the future.

“For me I believe in free market, and I think it should be market-driven, and I think today it’s already been proven that it’s market-driven,” he asserts. “If you look at a lot of people who are buying electric cars today like a Tesla, I don’t think they buy it because they get some tax discounts, and they don’t need some tax discounts. They buy it because they want to show that’s their beliefs—they want to show that they’re driving a zero-emissions car.”

Timelessness Takes Time Eco-friendly consumers with the financial means to do so have already shown they are willing to buy electrics right now. But it’s clear that Fisker wants to sell people on more than just reducing their carbon footprints.

He wants to entice buyers with his designs, which have been described by some as having a certain timeless quality to them.

For Fisker, there is no exact science to achieving that quality. There is only that ability to love what he does and to continually, tirelessly work toward having done something he can indeed love.

“There is no formula for timeless design.

I use my gut feel and I keep questioning my design detail during the design process, and if I don’t absolutely love them, I remove them, no matter how painful, and I keep working towards what I feel is perfection.” n

Our Men & Women of the Year Honorees are professionals in our community who not only excel in their field but provide outstanding acts of community service.

This year, we wanted to find a way to give back to the charities and non-profits that are bettering our city. Each honoree chose one cause they were passionate about and helped us pack the Ballroom at the Ben in Center City Philadelphia. The two honorees with the most supporters at the gala, won a portion of every ticket sold to the event to benefit their cause. We are proud to recognize Jerry Flanagan and Mike Regina for their efforts.

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JerseyMan publisher Ken Dunek (center, grey suit) with our 2016 Honorees, from left; Dr. Nina Radcliff, Ray Pennacchia, Lisa Silveri, Jim Haefele, Christie Mandia, Mike Regina, Karen Hepp, Phil Jaurigue, Susan Lehrman and Jerry Flanagan

The Ballroom at the Ben

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Fox 29 anchor Lucy Noland (right) served as emcee for the Gala

Do you know someone who would be a great Man or Woman of the Year candidate? Email Ashley at

adunek@jerseymanmagazine.com to submit your nomination.

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Workers put down the 76ers basketball court at the Wells Fargo Center

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HERE WAS CONSPIRATORIAL LAUGHTER throughout the room as Michael Sulkes described the problem that arose a couple years ago as the Wells Fargo Center crew changed the arena from ice hockey to basketball. It was a Saturday quick-change situation, within about a two-and-a-half-hour window, and there was the possibility 100 seats could have been lost for the evening’s game, something that could have led to confusion and upset.

It was up to general foreman Tim Allen to figure out a solution that required strategy, fast action—and a sledgehammer.

CHANGING TIMES

BY MICHAEL BRADLEY

How the Wells Fargo Center makes the switch from hockey to basketball to concerts and back again events. That means plenty of work for the men and women charged with making sure the arena is ready for the players, performers and fans. The goal is to make sure nobody realizes what has happened behind the scenes and that everybody in the building for a particular event notices only the performance or competition and not the temporary fix made necessary by an inevitable glitch that comes during just about any construction project.

“We have done this for so many years that there is a template,” Laws says. “We can handle quick changes, but there are always going to be wrinkles. We’re always going from basketball games to concerts and concerts to hockey. We always have a plan, but the variables can change it.”

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“Within a half hour, Tim and a couple carpenters came up with a way to stabilize it and make it safe,” says Phil Law, the Wells Fargo Center senior director of operations. “There were some sledgehammers being used, but when the doors opened, nobody was the wiser.

It was one of our closest calls.”

Once the NHL and NBA swing into action in October, the Wells Fargo Center begins operating at peak capacity, with games, concerts, rodeos, ice shows and the like practically every night, and on some Saturdays, two separate

hat planning begins long before the last siren or buzzer of a game sounds. Preparation for a given week’s activity begins a month in advance, when operations personnel meet with the events side to create a schedule for how to proceed. Without the knowledge of what’s coming next and what changes in equipment and manpower will be necessary, the changeovers cannot proceed smoothly. As various dates near, the planning becomes more specific, and various quirks in each change are examined.

For instance, in early November, Villanova played an exhibition game against Indiana University of Pennsylvania on a Saturday afternoon, and the Sixers were scheduled to meet the Cavaliers that evening. No problem, right?

It was basketball to basketball, so maybe a few logos had to be changed and some trash had to be removed.

Not so fast.

“The Sixers have a different setup for the press,” Laws says. “They put them in Section 112. And the vomitories [the passages through

which fans enter and leave the arena] have different signages for Sixers games. There are a lot of little things, especially when it comes to bringing equipment on and off the floor. It can be problematic.”

There is no consensus about which changeover is the most difficult. Allen says it’s hockey to basketball, “because more stuff is being built on site.” Of course, there is more to take off the floor when the crew has to switch the WFC from a Sixers’ venue to the Flyers’ home.

“Everybody has his own opinion,” Laws says.

Few people realize how much trash 20,000 people can create. “We have one million square feet inside the arena, and we have to clean that entire thing in two hours,” Sulkes says.

It’s difficult to have a simple template for the switches, because things change so quickly.

They can evolve year-to-year but also within a season. It’s one thing to configure chairs and tables, promotional material systems, protective netting and hockey boards, and another to deal with the technological advances involved in games today. In the old days, a basketball switch meant putting down the floor, some 53

seats and tables and the baskets. Today, thanks to the precision timekeeping that the NBA uses, there are greater power requirements and needs for more sophisticated installation procedures to make sure everything works properly.

If the many different clocks aren’t all in sync, there can be problems with the game’s operation and its smooth flow. That’s something no fan, player, coach—or arena employee—wants to see happen.

Each sport, and version of the sport, brings a different technological challenge. During the 2015-16 NHL season, the league increased the number of cameras it required arenas to have, the better to improve its ability to review controversial plays.

“We had to figure out how to rig four new cameras and get data to them,” Sulkes says.

Included was a monitor on the floor of every bench, so that coaches could see replays and decide whether to challenge referees’ calls. That required creating space for the television and the installation of a Plexiglas screen on top of it. It seems like a relatively small adjustment, but if the wiring and cables feeding it aren’t installed properly, one team could have an advantage over the other, and trouble could ensue. It’s just another part of the game that fans don’t see or take for granted, but which requires considerable attention

by WFC staff, often in a tight window. And

it isn’t a stand-alone condition. Each monitor that receives transmissions from cameras must get them at the same time, with the same clarity, so that everybody can be working together.

“There is a lot of coordination involved, from a lot of different departments,” Sulkes says. “It requires input from events, information technology, the in-house audio/visual people and electricians. It’s not just the operations guys

setting up chairs. This all has to put together.”

As the staff works to make sure everything is ready to go for the game, another army of people are working to ensure the fan experience is at its best. That includes making sure the signage is correct, the video and message boards are working properly—and are sportspecific. That’s all vital to the entire experience, but so is a clean arena.

F

ew people realize how much trash 20,000 people can create in just a few short hours. But every time somebody has a drink, tray of nachos, hot dog or box of popcorn (and its easily-scattered contents), the refuse is tossed under seats, in the concourses and just about anywhere else fans have access during a game. While the ice is being covered with a basketball floor, the rest of the place is being scrubbed quickly and efficiently.

“We have one million square feet inside the arena, and we have to clean that entire thing in two hours,” Sulkes says. “If the first game ends at three o’clock, when the doors open again at 5:30, we have to make sure that fans don’t think anything happened before they came in.”

The switches from basketball to hockey and vice versa happen pretty regularly, and the quick-change assignments, while not universal, are often enough to create a surge of excitement. But the Wells Fargo Center isn’t just in the sports business. Throughout the year, it hosts concerts, rodeos, BMX competitions, monster truck shows and just about anything else that fits into an arena. There is an art to converting a hockey rink into a concert venue, although non-sporting events aren’t as difficult to handle as the games are.

For instance, when a concert comes to town, the WFC staff is charged primarily with making sure the arena floor is empty and ready for 54

an artist’s crew to bring in staging, rigging and other A/V and IT equipment, so that members can configure things to the show’s specifications. Any complications that might arise beyond the construction of the stage and sound system come from any small changes in how the actual load-in differs from the plans that were established in advance. A change in the size of the stage or of the sound equipment in the middle of the floor can lead to a few extra seats’ becoming available on the day of the show. When it comes to the one-offs, like rodeos and the like, it’s a similar drill.

“For those types of shows, they travel with what they need,” Sulkes says. “If the monster trucks are coming in, they spend a day loading dirt on the floor, and our group will assist.”

The goal, of course, is the best experience for fans, and the crew hasn’t failed to deliver yet. Sulkes reports the all-time record for a hockey-to-basketball changeover is 2:06, while the reverse mark is 2:45, largely because there haven’t been as many of those opportunities.

The goal for both is two-and-a-half hours, and while it’s fun to shoot for record time, there is a much larger aim in mind.

“It’s about time, but it’s also about safety,” Laws says. “There are a lot of moving parts, and we talk about records, but the best record is that we haven’t gotten anybody hurt yet.”

And nobody’s laughing about that. n

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STAY CONNECTED jerseymanmagazine.com

Tuckahoe Brewing Company’s Tim Hanna

He was a wise man who invented beer. – Plato 58

Craft Quality - Tuckahoe Brewing Company For 30 plus years, the “This Bud’s for You” commercial worked well as a successful marketing tool implying everyone out there drinks the same beer—one size fits all philosophy. However, in 2016 the copy needs to read more like, “This Bud is Only for You.” Today’s beer market, comprised of millions of Millennials, craves something to drink that is far from anonymous and vanilla while they watch a game or shoot some pool. A beer is a beer is a beer mentality just won’t fly anymore.

In fact, having a beer can be the event in and of itself where the taste, flavor, and character of the beer is discussed and valued. In addition to a more cerebral approach to beer, hop aficionados appreciate a more intimate experience with the brewing process as well—thus, the rise of the craft beer industry and tours.

To illustrate this change in beer mentality, let’s talk numbers. Americans spend more than $100 billion on beer annually. However, in the past few years, smaller craft beer markets have inched their way up. According to stats compiled by the Brewers Association, the craft beer market consumed (pun

Brewing Jersey Style

BY MOLLY GOLUBCOW

intended) $22.3 billion in 2015—that equates to over 16 percent of the entire beer market.

So, we have a market ripe for picking for people who want beer with flavor, attitude, and that je ne sais quoi (yes, I am talking about beer and using a French expression simultaneously). So where to find a non-vanilla beer?

South Jersey boasts several companies taking a piece of the craft beer pie, including the Tuckahoe Brewing Company—a perfect example of owners looking to create something unique and different for customers who want more when they ask for a cold one.

Meet the Craftsmen and Woman

The genesis of Tuckahoe Brewing Co. was like a typical beer commercial—friends and local high school teaching buddies, Tim Hanna, Matt McDevitt, and Chris Konicki, and architect, Jim McAfee got together to share beers, catch up, and unwind. In 2004, they got the idea to brew their own, and according to Hanna, “After a while it became a regular thing.

We were brewing twice a month in my garage, and began talking about starting a brewery somewhere around 2020, which is when we all figured we’d be ready to retire from our current professions.”

Although the guys had their eye on a date in the future for expanding their hobby into a business, by 2011, Hanna realized that “…there was going to be an explosion of breweries opening up in New Jersey.” His predictions were on the mark. Five years ago, there were only 10 breweries in South Jersey as compared to about 50 today. In 2014, Tuckahoe Brewing Co. was born and the brewing began. Hanna explains, “We

Assistant Brewer Amanda Cardinali

didn’t want to be the last to enter a crowded market, so we decided to get in at that point and make a name for ourselves while the market was still wide open.”

In addition to the founding brew founders, Tuckahoe Brewing Co. also features a Fermentation Technician, Sean Towers, who develops their Small Culture Series for the taproom, including beers using wild or mixed yeast strains from wild New Jersey blueberries. And to add to the mix, Amanda Cardinali, Assistant Brewer, manages brew house operations and can be seen working on everything from recipe formulation to “manning” the bar. In the past, beer consumption and production was stereotypically a man’s world. However, like the market itself, things have changed. Cardinali talks about her role as a woman in brewing, “I started home brewing in college and absolutely fell in love with it. I was lucky enough to land a job brewing at Tuckahoe with no commercial experience; and I have been there ever since. When I started at Tuckahoe almost four years ago, there were only a small handful of women brewers in the state, but I wouldn’t

necessarily say it was unusual. As the industry grows, there seem to be more and more women getting involved.”

As a team, Tuckahoe Brewing Co. works in a very inclusive environment. Beers, recipes, and names are all conceived by the brew house team (Hanna, McDevitt, Cardinali, Towers, and Tim Caron). Hanna explains his brewing team’s assets, “They have very diverse perspectives and they work extremely well together, so the results of their collaborations are always very creative. For example, the “Foster the Funk” series, which focuses on barrel aging and bottle conditioning, has produced some highly specialized one-offs such as the “Silience” and “Violaceae” sours that were featured as bottle releases at the brewery last summer.

Jersey Owned & Operated Tuckahoe Brewing Co. started out in a small space just outside of Sea Isle City in Cape May County. In 2015, they moved to their current location in Egg Harbor Township to increase the size of the brew house. Their new home boasts a filtration system that replicates the water from the old location, so that the only changes to the existing beers have been improvements. In addition, Tuckahoe’s bigger and better brew house added over 20 new beers to their portfolio.

Jersey owned and operated, Tuckahoe also connects to the Garden State by naming several of their beers after local landmarks. For example, “Reeds Bay” in northern Atlantic County is the namesake of one of their IPAs (Indian Pale Ale—allegedly invented by the British during their efforts to colonize India). Their coffee 59

Wanting to really “know” one’s beer from conception to final product, people

like to see where it comes from and how. Tuckahoe Brewing Co. offers free tours of the brew house.

stout, “New Brighton” (named after Ocean City, NJ’s original name) was selected as the best beer at the Atlantic City Beer Festival a few years ago. And, to really drive home the Jersey element, Tuckahoe recently introduced “Seas of Grain Saison,” a collaboration brew with another Jersey brewery, Screaming Hill, using locally harvested rye from neighboring Bullock Farms.

As goes the industry, ironically, so do the customers. According to Hanna, Tuckahoe Brewing Co. caters to a very diverse audience.

“Up until seven or eight years ago, the typical craft beer fan was an older male. Now, I would say the numbers are closer to even as far as male-female goes, and you see a lot of younger people drinking craft beer. College kids don’t just drink what’s cheapest anymore. More and more of that age group are getting into craft beer these days.” And, what are Tuckahoe’s customers drinking? The “Dennis Creek Pale Ale” has been one of their biggest sellers—a very traditional craft style. In addition, they have introduced several new beers in the last year, and two that have met with a great response—“Quatrain” and “I Want to See Mountains,” both IPAs. As part of wanting to really “know” one’s beer from conception to final product, people like to see where it comes from and how.

Tuckahoe offers free tours and, in fact, the first thing visitors see when they come for a tour and tasting is the brew house. On the tour, 60

(L to R): Matt McDevitt, Tim Hanna and Tim Caron

Tuckahoe’s staff provides a brief overview of the brewing process, specifics about its equipment, and is happy to answer questions. After the tour, visitors head into the tasting room to where flights (samples of several beers) and pints are available for purchase. On any given day, Tuckahoe offers 16 beers on tap, several of which are available only at the brewery. In addition, growler fills (large glass or metal containers used to carry beer) and six-packs are available for take-out.

What’s Brewing for Tuckahoe Brewing Co.?

Since relocating the brewery to the Egg Harbor Township location, Tuckahoe Brewing Co. is very content with the amount of visitors that they see at the brewery. As for production, again, they are pleased with their current numbers—producing three times as much beer as they could in the old location. Distribution venues are doing well throughout Cape May and Atlantic Counties, as well as the Cherry Hill area. Future markets that Tuckahoe Brew-

ing Co. would like to tackle include expanding distribution up through the central part of the state, and achieving statewide distribution within five years.

Although Hanna and the rest of the Tuckahoe Brewing Co. staff welcome all of their customers, as an English teacher for over 20 years, Hanna visualizes that his ideal customer would be Odysseus—based out of sheer fun and fantasy. Hanna combines his love and knowledge of beer with his expertise in literature and brews up a great tale as to why Odysseus would be the guy he’d love to have a beer with—well, a Tuckahoe Brewing Co. beer that is! “The guy masterminded the Greeks’ victory in the Trojan War, had to fight off the Cyclops and deal with the Lotus Eaters in order to make his way back home, and when he did finally make it back to Ithaca after 20 years on the road, he had to fight to reclaim his kingdom and throne. That’s some pretty cool stuff, and I would serve him our “Fete du Roi,” our “Belgian Dark Strong Ale”—the name translates to “the party of the king.”

Bottoms up! n

SPORTS GUYS

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The Golf Sponsorship Biz Ren Cicalese of Alloy Silverstein

BY MIKE KERN

Growing up in South Jersey, Ren Cicalese wanted to be a sports writer. Seriously.

Ren Cicalese (left) with professional golfer and client Cam Percy 62

But when he got to Temple, he discovered that maybe the profession wasn’t meant for him after all.

“I actually just quit one day,” he recalled.

“It’s funny. My second year, I got dropped out of registration and had to go through walkthrough. So I wound up taking a bunch of classes I really didn’t like. One was The History of Biology. I studied my butt off for it and still got like a 62 in the mid-term. The professor wrote that I probably never cracked a book.

And I’d studied my butt off. He asked what field of medicine I was going into. I told him I was a Journalism major. And he said everybody else was in pre-med. He was surprised I’d even got a 62. I quit school that day.”

He ended up at Rutgers-Camden, where he played baseball (second base) and became a CPA. Now, at 60, he’s the managing partner of the Cherry Hill, NJ-based regional accounting firm Alloy, Silverstein, Shapiro, Adams, Mulford, Cicalese, Wilson & Co., that has a payroll company and offers financial services. Recently he’s also started sponsoring golfers who are mostly trying to get their careers off the ground.

Who knew?

“My dad died when I was nine,” he said.

“Somebody had to take care of the money. I was the oldest in an Italian family (he has two siblings).

He died in January. We had to come up with a Mother’s Day present in May. And ever since…

“I always wanted to be involved in sports.

I played softball until I was like 30-something.

Then I started playing golf. And I really worked at it. I used to be like a 5-6 handicap. I had two guys that took about half a million dollars’ worth of business from me. During litigation, I went to a 15. I forgot how I swung. I could forgive them for loss of money, but not for what they did to my game.”

Alloy Silverstein professional golfer clients (from left): Ashley Hall, Cam Percy, Steve Allan and Adam Crawford are all from Australia.

S

o yes, he’s passionate. And several years ago that drive led him—quite by chance— into a new endeavor, when one of his clients wanted to take his consulting company public. Long story short, he came in contact with an associate who was an agent working out of Chattanooga, Australian Dave Hill. He wanted some help for one of his Web.com Tour players, and asked what Cicalese might be able to do. And what began as pretty much offering to take care of taxes, soon turned into working out a deal to put his logo on “the bag or shirt or something.” And eventually, that led him to other guys looking for similar arrangements.

“I’m in the relationship business,” Cicalese explained. “I would leave on Monday morning, get to the course, spend some time on the practice range, stay until Friday and fly back Saturday morning. I’d do that like once a month. Anywhere that was an easy plane ride from Philly. I would spend a lot of time just meeting people, staying busy, almost being like a second caddie out there. And every night you’d go out with your player. It was a whole different arena.”

He ended up working with a lot of Aussies, many of whom were coming over here for the first time and “knew nothing” about our tax laws. Then he got a few more from Europe who

found themselves in much the same situation.

Some have even made it to the PGA Tour, at least for a while. He’s also been working with female players from Asia, for the same reasons. It’s

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“ I don’t worry about making money. I do what’s right for the client. When you do that, you make a lot of money. Treat them the way you want to be treated.”

become a huge part of his life. And the length of tax season being what it is, his summers are mostly free. He’s even spent some time overseas because of it.

“The reality is, you come back at night and then do your day job,” Cicalese reasoned.

“Nothing stops. I literally have so many batteries. I’m working all the time. I have my playermanager credential from the PGA Tour. It allows me to have full access to the locker room, media tent, clubhouse. It’s just something I believe in.

The minute my partner told me I wouldn’t be able to do it, that’s my personality. I was going to make it work. From a business standpoint, it’s

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nice when you can be watching TV and see your logo come up on the screen.”

That’s hardly the only perk.

“A few years ago my wife and I were at this cocktail party at the TPC Sawgrass,” he said.

“And one day that week one of my guys, Adam Crawford, asked if we could play with him. So we played the Stadium Course. And my wife is freaking out. ‘We’re going to play with a pro golfer!’ About a month later we’re watching the Australian Open on a Saturday and Crawford’s leading the tournament. And he’s playing with Rory (McIlroy). My wife goes, ‘How cool is this?’

We played with a guy who’s playing with the No. 1 player in the world. It was like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I know Jason Day’s caddy.

When he wins, I’m texting him. ‘Hey mate, great job.’ Everybody wants to know how my golfers are doing.”

He only has one rule, which some people laugh at him for. He only wants to deal with “nice” players.

“I get calls from people I don’t know,” Cicalese noted. “Golfers are a little different. They’re like nomads. I have relationships with people all over the world. Agents in theory like to control everything. There are people I wouldn’t let in my house. It’s very cutthroat. With me being a CPA, I need written permission from my players to even share info with an agent. I’m not a groupie. When I have my business hat on, it’s

about work. It’s a weird business. I have a desire to build something that I can leave to somebody (his three sons work at the firm).

“The first thing I tell my players is, trust nobody with your money. Including me. Nobody looks after your money like you. The problem is, they don’t know. They’re golfers, not business people. There’s a lot of stuff to deal with, when it comes to their finances. And a lot of times you’re also coordinating with overseas accountants. I don’t do anything on a whim. I want to be involved. We’re trying to go from a regional firm to a national firm. I probably have to get 100 times bigger than I am. We have one floor in our building. I’ve said that before I retire I want all three floors.

“It’s a unique marketplace. Everyone has different budgets. Sometimes it’s like Monopoly money. You get whatever work you can get. A lot of firms don’t have this expertise. From that standpoint, it’s pretty cool when you get a call from a client who says, ‘I saw your guy’ [on TV.]”

W

hich, of course, is the point. It’s all about exposure. And taking care of whatever needs to be handled, in a professional manner. When a player does well, that obviously makes things easier for both parties. Yet it still usually starts with something so basic as him having to get a credit card in this country for someone who doesn’t have a credit

history here. Because who needs excessive bank fees for using a foreign card? So there are neverending issues. It’s all part of the job description. If the whole idea didn’t appeal to him, he wouldn’t be doing it. He doesn’t know exactly where this might take him, but he can’t wait to find out.

It sure beats trying to get a passing grade in some course where he needed to buy a clue.

“I’d love to be working with like 50 guys,” Cicalese said. “I don’t worry about making money. I do what’s right for the client. When you do that, you make a lot of money. Treat them the way you want to be treated. Things fall in place later on. But money is not my motivator. There’s a spider web of a network out there. It seems to be working. I always stay busy....

“I have a girl, Jayde Panos. She’s Australian, playing at Oklahoma State. She posted something on Facebook. They were holding the Australian Open at some place she wasn’t familiar with and where she didn’t know anybody. I sent out an email to all my Aussie golfers. And in about 20 minutes she had a room to stay within walking distance of that course. Literally, how cool is that? I’m sitting in Medford [NJ] and this is happening. It made me feel like, ‘OK, I’m doing something right.’

“It’s really that simple.”

And to think he could have been covering the Phillies. n

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BY SAM CARCHIDI

HoF photo Sam Carchidi

THE CALL TO THE HALL

I

magine a 6-foot-4, 240-pound mountain of a man skating down the ice with speed, swooping around a defender and then making a sweet move to beat the goalie and, well, you know what it was like to watch Eric Lindros during his heyday with the Flyers.

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Lindros possessed a rare combination and power and finesse that made him one of the most dominant players of his era.

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Photo Philadelphia Flyers

Lindros had six concussions with the Flyers, and he now spends time helping an Ontario university do research on brain injuries.

“Looking back, I wish I wasn’t quite as physical,” admitted Lindros. “A collision is a collision and it takes a toll on bodies.”

“As a kid, he was one of those players you wanted to be,” Flyers forward Brayden Schenn said.

No one has since been able to duplicate the rare combination—power AND finesse—that Lindros possessed.

That combination is why Lindros, despite a career that was shortened because of numerous concussions, was inducted into Hockey’s Hall of Fame on Nov, 14 in his home city, Toronto.

“He was the best player in the game for quite a few years,” Flyers Senior Vice President Bob Clarke said. “There still hasn’t been another player like him, with size, and skating ability, and skill. He brought some nastiness. We all dream about having a player like that.”

Lindros starred for the Flyers from 1992-93 to 1999-00, averaging 1.36 points per game, by far the best total in franchise history.

“There’s nobody in the game, in my mind, that’s been the type of

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player Eric was,” said Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall, one of Lindros’ former teammates. “You’ve got a guy that’s absolutely enormous, strong, skates well. The prototypical power forward, along with a skill level that no one that size had ever had. He was a dominant player for six, seven eight years there.”

Lindros downplayed the fact he was snubbed six times for the Hall of Fame before he had enough votes.

“Sometimes it takes a couple years, sometimes it takes 30,” he said. “....Take whatever path you want. We’re all in here forever.”

indros’ path to hockey royalty was an unusual one. He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991 and refused to report to the team. A year later, he was dealt to the Flyers in a controversial, blockbuster trade.

He dominated the 1990s and finished his career with 865 points, including 372 goals, in 760 games. That computes to 1.138 points per game, 19th in NHL history.

With Lindros, there were no shortcuts. He played the game fearlessly, dishing out punishment and also absorbing it. He said his career would have lasted longer if he had played differently.

“Looking back, I wish I wasn’t quite as physical,” admitted Lindros,

L

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ERIC LINDROS CAREER STATISTICS GAMES PLAYED

GOALS

ASSISTS

POINTS

+/-

PIM

760 372 493 865 215 398 who spent eight of his 13 seasons with the Flyers and retired from the NHL when he was 34. “I wish I had pulled it back about 25 percent and saved some of that.....A collision is a collision and it takes a toll on bodies.”

He had six concussions with the Flyers, and he now spends time helping an Ontario university do research on brain injuries. He also does charity work for Easter Seals.

Because of injuries, Lindros played 60 or more games in just five of his eight seasons with the Flyers. He had at least 40 goals in four of those seasons.

Despite his concussions and other injuries, Lindros somehow made the most of his time and became one of the best players of his era.

Lindros, the proud father of three young children, including twins, also paved the way for safer standards for today’s NHL players. His injuries factored into the development of current concussion protocols, with mandatory testing for each game in which a head injury occurs.

I

n juniors, Lindros was a man among boys and was thought to be the next great player since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, He was going to be a franchise cornerstone, scouts said.

The Quebec Nordiques agreed, making Lindros the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 NHL draft.

Lindros, The Next One, refused to sign and demanded a trade. He spent the 1991-92 season playing in juniors, and at the 1992 draft, the Nordiques finally honored his request.

Twice.

In one of the oddest days in NHL history, the Nordiques somehow managed to trade Lindros’ rights to the Flyers and then to the New York Rangers.

Both teams claimed he was theirs.

A week later, an arbitrator ruled in the Flyers’ favor. They sent six players—Peter Forsberg, who was drafted sixth overall by the Flyers in 1991 and was still playing in Sweden in 1992, Mike Ricci, Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, and Chris Simon—to Quebec, along with $15 million and two draft picks.

“If you could have traded for Gretzky at 19 years old, what should the price be or what would you pay?” Russ Farwell, then the Flyers’ general manager, said to NHL.com. “And that’s how we got ourselves to that level.”

When the trade became official, Flyers ticket sales skyrocketed. The Wells Fargo Center—the House That Lindros Built—was erected and club suites sold briskly.

All because of the Big E. “I was there for the last of the five years the team wasn’t in the playoffs, and he came along and stabilized the base, and then basically really helped us grow as we built the new facility,” said Peter Luukko, the Flyers’ former president, before the Hall-of-Fame ceremony. “Eric was the big draw because everybody believed we were headed in the right direction.”

Before long, he became a dominant player, someone that future players wanted to emulate.

The players on today’s Flyers talk in reverent tones about Lindros.

“He was a big strong bull,” said right winger Wayne Simmonds, who is regarded as one of the NHL’s premier power forwards. “He played the game both ways. He could out-skill you, but I think he took joy in going through you instead of trying to dangle you—and then he’d put the puck in the back of the net. He was always awesome to watch.”

Flyers winger Chris VandeVelde agreed.

“He hit, he scored, he did everything,” said VandeVelde, who idolized

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Lindros and Mario Lemieux while growing up in Minnesota. “You didn’t see big guys like that with good hands who could put the puck in the net.

He definitely put the game in a different direction.”

One of the best parts of his career, Lindros said, was competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Flyers. He led them to the 1997 Finals.

“Playoff games in Philly are always exciting—whether it be at the Spectrum or the First Union Center, that city just gets (amped),” he said.

“As soon as the playoffs hit there, it’s jacked up and a lot of fun to be a part of that group.”

e is now 43, wider than during his NHL days, but he still plays hockey twice a week in Toronto, which is where he grew up.

“I still love the game. I get around and chip in a few here and there,” he said. “Play as long as you can, right?”

It’s not a formal men’s league, Lindros said, but “just a bunch of guys who get together and you pick up a dark jersey or a white jersey. That’s how you pick teams; it’s that simple. There’s no referees, no contact unless you’re playing with some crazy guys who inadvertently drop in. But it’s just a lot of fun.”

On the ice, Lindros will always be in his element.

“It’s skating and it’s the atmosphere in the locker room, too. You’ve got guys from all different walks of life there and they come together because it’s hockey,” he said. “It’s the common bond.”

As for his very public feud with then-general manager Clarke toward the end of the big center’s Flyers’ tenure, Lindros prefers looking ahead.

The two patched up their differences when Lindros was asked to play in the Winter Classic alumni game in 2011.

“There’s no point in being negative,” Lindros said. “We disagreed about some things. It’s over. Let’s move forward. Let’s be better.”

Clarke, who thought Lindros’ parents interfered too much on behalf of their son, said he now has a “better understanding” of the situation—and that Eric’s father, Carl, was “looking out for him.”

Lindros was asked if a “dark cloud” had been lifted in 2011 when thengeneral manager Paul Holmgren invited him to play in the alumni game.

“It wasn’t a dark cloud,” Lindros at the 2011 Winter Classic game in Philadelphia said Lindros, who declined an offer from Holmgren to return to the Flyers in 2011 (primarily as a power-play specialist), five seasons after he had retired. “We had a difference of opinion and we’re strong-minded individuals, eh?”

Playing in the alumni game, Lindros said, “was fantastic. Philly fans are terrific. They really are. There are not many cities in the States where you get that feeling. You get it here in Toronto, obviously, and in every Canadian city. I think Philly is top-notch in terms of the U.S. side of things.”

The fans who attended that alumni game at Citizens Bank Park greeted Lindros with loud, heartfelt cheers. They will get an opportunity to stand and salute his Hall-of-Fame induction when Lindros returns during a Captain’s Night celebration before the Flyers’ Feb. 2 home game against Montreal.

During his emotional Hall-of-Fame acceptance speech, Lindros thanked numerous people who helped him achieve stardom, including his Legion of Doom line mates, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg, for “the intensity and joy” they brought to the game.

“I was lucky,” Lindros said, “to be your centerman.”

The feeling, of course, was mutual.

Fact is, all of those who got to watch Lindros’ fearless, gifted play over the years were the lucky ones. n

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photo ericlindros.ca

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MIND YOUR BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH US contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com

DR. NINA

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY NINA RADCLIFF, MD

Strategies for Coming Out Victorious at Holiday Parties HE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON US! And with it comes a myriad of holiday parties and events —those wondrous and festive times to enjoy friends, loved ones and socialize with co-workers. And it’s not surprising to see our calendars filling up throughout November into December, and even extending well into January.

And for those of us who are watching our weight, holiday events can all too often shatter the progress we have made with our healthy goals. It can even leave us with an unwanted memento of a few extra pounds that we carry in to our new year. Bah-Humbug!

Now is the time to take action and plan as we may be tempted to think, “Oh, I will get rid of any added pounds after the first of the year.” But research shows that rarely ever happens. In fact, studies show the average American gains 1 to 2 pounds during the holiday season—and, those extra pounds are more likely to become permanent baggage.

Dr. Nina’s What You Need To Know To Enjoy Holiday Party Festivities Without Packing on the Pounds NEVER GO TO A PARTY HUNGRY This is a recipe for disaster. When we are hungry the body’s hormone, ghrelin, surges and can make us ravenous. We are more likely to grab and eat high calorie, high fat, and high salt foods to quench our hunger. Having a light snack can tame our cravings. And when choosing a pre-party snack, be strategic. Avoid simple, sugary foods that are quickly digested and will leave us hungry soon after. Snacks that are rich in protein (slice of turkey, non-fat yogurt, cheese) and fiber (fruit, veggies, nuts) will leave us feeling full longer, a term called satiated.

PORTION CONTROL The holidays do come around once a year and it would be unfair not to indulge—a little bit. “Sample” those fun holiday delights so you do not feel deprived. That includes the creamy mashed potatoes, fried turkey, and grandma’s pecan pie that she spent hours making. However, rely on healthy choices such as salads, veggies, and lean meats to fill you up.

Consider using a smaller plate so there is less room to keep piling on the food and it appears that there is more.

BRING A HEALTHY DISH

FRIENDLY REMINDERS

Going to a holiday party when watching your weight can be like playing Russian Roulette. Instead of having selections only of high-calorie-laden foods or treats, consider bringing a healthy dish as a backup plan. Other partygoers are bound to appreciate, and benefit from, your efforts!

Interventions such as getting emails, texts, or phone calls can remind us to stay on track with eating healthy during the busy holiday season and when we are at parties. Along with some great apps to help us track, some ideas include putting it on our calendars, setting our smart phone alarm clocks, sending automated daily emails to ourselves and loved ones, leaving notes around the home with encouraging messages, and pairing up with a buddy to send and receive motivational reminders.

SOCIALIZE MORE AND SNACK LESS Expect food, lots of it, and people you may not see often. Take the time to talk to and catch up with friends, loved ones, and co-workers. And do so away from the food area where you may be tempted to graze while catching up and enjoying your conversation.

WATCH OUT FOR CALORIES IN ALCOHOL A glass of wine contains approximately 125 calories, a martini 130 calories, and a beer 153 calories. And many holiday parties offer the seasonal treat of eggnog. One cup of rum eggnog contains nearly 400 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 37 grams of carbohydrates! Additionally, alcohol lowers your inhibitions making you less likely to steer clear of calorie traps or avoid overeating.

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TAKE YOUR TIME It takes our body 20 minutes to realize that we are full. During that lag time, we may become victim to overindulgence and the accumulation of lots of extra calories and fat. To prevent this, eat slowly and enjoy our food’s aroma and taste.

Commit now to a holiday in which you manage not to gain any weight, before it’s time to resolve to lose all that weight (and so much more) again.

At our holiday events, let’s eat strategically by opting for low calorie, protein rich food and we will avoid rapid weight gain this holiday season.

Happy Holidays! n

WHAT WE WEAR

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY DANIEL R. MORRONI

What’s so “super” about super wools?

A

n age-old grading system is used to ensure that the quality of wool fabric is accurately categorized-and valued. The finest worsted wools are called “super wools” or “choice wool.” Carded wools are called “woolens.”

When the grading system for worsted wool began in England, it applied only to 100% pure raw wool, but now covers wool blends that incorporate other natural fibers, such as cashmere, mohair, or alpaca. While the USDA monitors wool grading in the U.S., The British Wool Textile Export Corporation introduced a code of practice concerning the description of wool quality in the 1990s to clear up confusion in the marketplace caused by companies describing the same qualities of wool in different ways.

The main benefit to consumers is consistent rating of the quality of wool fiber contained in cloths woven in the United Kingdom. For more than a century cloth woven in the United Kingdom has been acknowledged among the world’s finest.

The craft of cloth making has been handed down from generation to generation culminating in today’s superfine fabrics.

Today’s fabrics combine all of the craft’s tradition with cutting edge technological advances in animal husbandry , wool growing, combing and spinning practices.

The “Super” number refers to the length of wool yarn produced from one pound of raw wool, so the longer and thinner the fibers, the higher the number. (The “S” or “super” can also be left off, as the true measurement of grade is the number). These wool fibers are not only thinner than others, but are also longer than thicker, fuzzier wool fibers, so super wools create longer skeins of thinner yarn. “Super” numbers start with the 80s and increase by 10, to range up to 210 for extremely high quality wool. Super 80s are up to 19.50 microns in diameter, while Super 210s are no more than 13.00 microns wide.

Q&A

The long, thin fibers in Super 200s or Super 210s create a far finer and silkier cloth than can be made from coarser wools, but wool with lower Super numbers will likely keep you warmer in cool weather. When you’re crafting a suit, it’s important to know when and where you intend to wear your suit, and choose your wool accordingly. The higher wool grades, while wonderful for many circumstances, are not always best for high performance situations, heavy wear, or frequent travel.

Question: What’s current this winter?

I’m looking to get a few new pieces, and I want to make sure they’re not about to go out of style.

One micron is equal to one thousandth of a millimeter and the micron count refers to the diameter of the individual fibers from which the yard is spun-not to be confused with the thickness or count of the yard itself. Once spun into yarn, any grade of wool could be woven into summer or winter weight fabrics. The finer the wool fiber, the smaller the micron count. The smaller the micron count, the rarer the wool and therefore the more expensive the cloth. n

“ To adapt a phrase from Le Corbusier, the suit is a machine for living in, close-fitting but comfortable armour, constantly revised and reinvented to be, literally, well suited for modern daily life.” – Cally Blackman 76

Ask Daniel Answer: This fall and winter, look for

the following trends: Emerald green will be a dominant shade this winter. Plaids will include classic, elegant tartans. Some designers are taking the unusual step of incorporating summer’s floral prints into their fall clothing lines. (If you want to enjoy this trend, consider using a floral pocket square or tie to avoid overwhelming your outfit with a large quantity of a floral print.)

Trends in outerwear include shearling topcoats or cardigan sweaters.

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John Gillespie, PARKER McCAY Hy Goldberg, Safian & Rudolph Jewelers Steve Goodman, Volunteers of America Francine Graglia, Scale to Success Chris Green, Richard Green & Son Public Insurance Adjusters Brian Greenberg, Brian C. Greenberg & Assoc., LLC Jen Groover, Thuzio Joe Gross, ConSerTech, Inc. Jim Guerin, MetaSense Doreen Guss, Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe, Court Reporting Mitch Gyger, OPS Security Group Sharon Hammel, Republic Bank Berkley Harmon, Insperity Bob Harriett, Harriett’s Energy Solutions John Heist, Thomas H. Heist Insurance Agency Leor Hemo, Wolf Commercial Real Estate John Herring, Liberty Bell Bank John Hiltwine, NJLS Robert Hoey, Janney Montgomery Scott Robert Hoey, Jr., Janney Montgomery Scott* John Hopkins, Inspirit Growth Bryan Hornung, Xact IT Solutions Kristi Howell, Burlington County Chamber of Commerce Jim Hughel, Town Place Travel & Cruises Bryan Hughes, Huntingdon Valley Bank Edward Hutchinson, Hutchinson Mechanical Services Mike Jaconelli, Evesham Mortgage Jeff Jaskol, The Jaskol Group Eileen Jason, ARTA Consulting Michael Jaurigue, Maverick Web & Mobility Solutions, Inc. Lisa Joswick, Blackbook, LLC Kenneth Justice, KMJ INC. Dawn Kaplan, Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, PA Abbie Kasoff, Say It With Clay Alex Kazmarck, Surf Mall Dr. Mark Kemenosh, Glen Oaks Health & Spine Center Robert Kennedy, The Kennedy Companies Sean Kennedy, New Jerseyans for a Better Tomorrow Jeffery Alan Kerstetter, Kerstetter Law, LLC J. Philip Kirchner, Flaster Greenberg Janine Kiriluk, Janine’s Bookkeeping Wendee Yudis Koren, WY Design Christin Kwasny, National Kidney Foundation Joe LaGrossa, McKella 280 Keith Langan, Surety Title Company, LLC Julie LaVan, LaVan Law Roy Leitstein, Legacy Treatment Services Elizabeth Leska, Wells Fargo Brian Libby, Primepoint Brian Lipstein, Henry A. Davidsen Thomas Livelli, Lavell Transportation, Inc. John Livingston, A6 Wine Co. Douglas MacGray, Compassion Advisors, LLC Jennifer Madera, The Career Finders Matt Malinowski, Corporate Source Joseph Mallee, Peerless Business Advisors Mike Mamula, CSS Inc. Jamie Martin, Strive Physical Therapy Betty Maul, FrontEnd Graphics* Marla McDermott, The Walnut Club Brian McGroarty, Core Title* Joseph McNamara, LDiscovery, LLC Steve Meranus, EBE Events and Entertainment Jeremy Messler, Jeremy Messler Photography, LLC Marnie Meyer, GC4 Consulting Group Brett Michener, Golf Performance Institute Earl R. Miller, Mainline Private Wealth Dave Mills, M&T Bank Brian Minker, Able Technology Partners, LLC Rosemarie Mohr, The Claridge a Radisson Hotel Anthony Mongeluzo, PCS Ron Monokian, We Make It Personal by Joy’s Hallmark Charles Montecino, Montecino & Ciaccia, P.A. Kathy Morgan, Integrity Staffing Solutions Dan Morroni, Morroni Custom Clothiers Michael Moynihan, Michael Moynihan John Murabito, RE Business Solutions Charles Muracco, CLM Advisors

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THE

Entrepreneur Coach

by John Hopkins

inspireme@inspiritgrowth.com

Intuitive Listening: A Lesson in Leadership Maybe the Single Most Impactful Determinant in the Presidential Election Result Columnist Note: This is not an endorsement of one candidate over another. Values and ethics will have to play out for Mr. Trump. This is however a preface to ask this question.

As a leader, how well are you “intuitively listening” to lead your people with a clear vision?

There is a strong lesson in leadership for all leaders in this election result.

INTUITIVE LISTENING Sifting through the factors of what didn’t work for Clinton, it appeared that one factor was costlier than all the others. This costly factor to one candidate was the most valuable for the other…intuitive listening.

DISRUPTION In February, there were 7 Republican candidates. A well-read friend of mine said Trump didn’t have a chance. I listened to all his explanations. I offered Trump will win the Republican primary. He queried why. I evidenced he is a very savvy entrepreneur and that comes with an insurgent mindset. Both allow him to “hear with his eyes and think with his gut.”

Contrarian points of view defy logic to the logical thinker. Trump was listening to a voice he has been employing for a long time … “The Forgotten Men and Women”.

THE FORGOTTEN MEN and WOMEN This term refers to the ordinary working citizens without whom a modern economy would falter. In a New York Times editorial by Beverly Gage, a Yale University history professor, she tracked the focus that Roosevelt placed on this image of the strained industrial worker and struggling farmer, to gain the loyalty of the working class as Democrats for The New Deal generation. But as The Great Society generation emerged during the Johnson Administration, what was once the “The Forgotten Man” became “The Forgotten American.” This part of American society was also represented by the working class. It was now being disenfranchised by the Democratic party and was courted by Nixon to win his election as many of these former Democratic loyalists shifted to the Republican party. Ms. Gage highlighted 80

that a principle factor of where the predictions went wrong was the underestimation of how well Trump mobilized the “silent majority” in a fashion similar to Roosevelt and Nixon. Just look to the number of red states on the Electoral College map. However, there was another key pollster miss. More educated men and women voted for Trump than expected. What do the Forgotten Men and Women have in common with educated men and women? The need for job and economic security. Trump intuitively understands business. He has employed and listened to a lot of people across the country for many years. It’s essential to being a very successful business owner.

INSPIRING LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS • UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR • MEASURED FEARLESSNESS • UNIFYING VISION • SOCIAL IMPACT • STOIC RESOLVE

INSPIRING LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS Intuitive listening emerged as a major difference between the candidates in a very close race. As the fog lifts on why the predictions were wrong, it will be clear it was because the pollsters did not hear what Trump (and Roosevelt and Nixon and even Bill Clinton in 1992, “It’s the economy, stupid”) were seeing. It is still about jobs, economic security and long term financial protection. I believe there are 15 Leadership Essentials that entrepreneurial leaders must do to be inspiring, effective leaders.

Five of them weigh in very heavily in the case of Trump’s win.

• Understanding People’s Behavior requires that a leader clearly gets why people behave as they do and what drives their fulfillment.

Productive, prideful people will prioritize job security before anything else. It’s the American way.

• Measured Fearlessness requires having the guts to trust yourself as a leader to take the path less traveled in the face of doubt and criticism. One candidate clearly intends to disrupt the status quo. America inherently supports the underdog.

• Unifying Vision requires a single-phrased, inspiring, communal action statement for “team” clarity and direction. “Make America Work Again” captured the prideful hearts of The Forgotten Men and Women and transformed a silent majority movement that was more stealth in its pervasiveness and resilience.

• Social Impact links mission and social impact intention for inspired engagement. There is social impact to those trying to fund daily needs, secure pensions, reduce regulations, protect farms by imposing import tariffs, lowering trade imbalances, reducing unprecedented levels of debt to create jobs and stabilize the economy.

• Stoic Resolve requires that the leader never waiver, never doubt, never stop focusing on what matters most. A clear, crisp, focused message of “Make America Great Again” mobilized Trump’s voters in a unified movement across the country.

One person was able to listen better, intuit what would move the class of people without whom our economy would falter and stay on message. Despite many reprehensible character flaws, Trump was able to somehow instill greater confidence and offer hope to his constituents in winning a very tight race. Appreciate the essential need to stay on message with your teams. Clarity is measurable. n

THE CIGAR GUY _____________________________________________

BY SAM KRAFT

Sponsored by The

Smoking Dog

Rocky Patel Prohibition - Connecticut

T

HE CIGAR GUY has not reviewed many Rocky Patel cigars since inception. That’s not to say there are not fantastic cigars from the Rocky brand. In fact, there may just be too many Rocky’s to discern which ones are gems. The Rocky Patel Company has just about as many cigar facings as there are cigar brands on the market. It’s difficult to remember and appreciate all their cigars, let alone smoke them all. One of Rocky’s more recent lines has been consistently enjoyable and impressive. Rocky Patel’s Prohibition line offers some of the company’s more flavorful and dynamic products. It includes two cigars, one wrapped in a San Andres leaf, the other in a Connecticut Broadleaf. The newest addition to join the Prohibitions is the Connecticut. Its wrapper is an Ecuadorian Connecticut and the fillers are Dominican. Surprisingly, this cigar shovels out plenty of flavor filled smoke.

On the first puff, it is clear that this Connecticut is neither too mild nor bland. Initially it is sweet and sour with a slight spice at its finish.

The aromas invoke memories of breathing in the scent of an oriental

Size: Toro

carpet or the smell of roasted burlap. It is something of nostalgia.

During the second third, this Prohibition starts to find its pacing. The cigar tastes like a honey roasted cracker, while some sourness and spice stick around. By the end of the smoke, the cigar has smoothed out completely, having little to no spice. By this point, it becomes easy to smoke and enjoy without much thought. The retro hale is smooth, lacking any bite.

What is most interesting about this cigar is that throughout the entire smoke, the cigar does not leave the smoker with a dry mouth.

Usually, cigars will create some sort of dry sensation from the smoke and from the saltiness of the tobacco. Sometimes other flavors on the tongue can overpower the dry feeling. One of those flavors is sourness.

The sensation of sour causes the mouth to produce more saliva as opposed to less. Each basic flavors, sour, salty, sweet and spice can all be detected in cigars. The prominence of those flavors is dictated by which tobacco priming is used when constructing a cigar. From this, it could be concluded that the Prohibition Connecticut is rolled with tobacco from the first priming, like the seco leaf. How much seco, viso and ligero leaves that are used in a blend is next to impossible for a consumer to confirm, but the game of speculation is a fun one.

This Connecticut is an excellent addition to the Prohibition line.

Dominated by stronger cigars, the Prohibition now offers a lighter option. It is a Connecticut that is by no means flat or empty. It’s a great everyday smoke for those who are fans of Rocky and those who are not.

Be safe, have fun, and enjoy your smoke. n

ADVERTISE WITH US contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com 82

THE HEALTH REFEREE ______________________________________________________________________________________________

BY DR. RUBINA TAHIR, DC

Six things highly successful people do to manage holiday stress

I

am guilty of jumping on the holiday bandwagon. In December, it’s quite likely that you will find me in a Santa hat, sipping on a gingerbread latte. Ah, the holidays, I am sure you have your favorite sentiments as well! Perhaps hot cocoa, family dinners, gift giving, or a winter getaway.

There is a special joy that the holiday time brings, but sometimes we can have an Ebenezer Scrooge moment. That moment is different for each of us, but let’s face it—it’s holiday stress. Holiday stress doesn’t have to get the best of us. So I asked six highly successful people (Who better to get secrets from!), entrepreneurs, doctors, authors, success coaches, TV hosts—to see how they manage their stress over the holidays.

1. They Color If you are anticipating family stress over the holidays, pick up a few coloring books. At the end of the night, unwind for 10-15 minutes by coloring. “Coloring allows us to switch off the brain and focus. The heart rate often begins to slow and the brain enters a similar state to meditation” says Dr. Aaron Braun, of SignatureCare

Emergency Center in Houston. While it may seem a little silly, coloring books are a great way to relieve stress. With so many fun and interesting options out there today, it’s easy to find something that you can enjoy.

2. They Keep Warm Holiday stress combined with cold weather is not a healthy combination. “Winter temperatures cause significant compensatory changes in the body to protect against the cold,” says Dr. Jared Heathman, a Houston based psychiatrist. The changes you may notice include shivering, goosebumps, difficulty breathing, and the effects of artery constriction: numbness, headaches, stomach aches, and other pains.

“To counteract this stress, relax by participating in warm activities,” says Heathman. “This can entail spending time by the fire, or enjoying warm showers, saunas, and jacuzzis.” If those are not practical options, opt for hot cocoa and warm blankets.

Magnesium: Dr. Dean’s Holiday Relaxation Recipe • 2 TBSP cacao powder • 3 TBSP coconut oil • 1/2 tsp Just Like Sugar, Stevia or Maple Syrup Mix the three ingredients in a small shallow dish and drop in a 2-inch piece of frozen banana and coat. You can coat the banana once or several times.

The oily cacao will harden immediately around the frozen banana. You can either eat immediately or return to the freezer for another time – if you can wait that long! Crunchy, creamy and so tasty. You could also add grated coconut or crushed nuts to the chocolate sauce for even more enjoyment.

4. They Engage the Five Senses The new strategy is not to avoid the hustle and bustle, but instead to engage our senses. Joy Rains, author and mindfulness trainer, shares a few examples on how to use the senses to calm stress vs. ignite it. “Mindfulness is about coming into the present moment with full awareness. If you find yourself getting caught up in regrets about the past or worries about the future, see if you can gently bring your awareness to what you are experiencing in the here and now,” says Rains.

3. They Eat Magnesium Holiday stress can impact our joints and muscles, leaving you feeling tight, cramped, sore or stiff. Magnesium is a mineral our body is particularly fond of due to its relaxation properties. “Magnesium citrate powder is a highly absorbable form that can be mixed with hot or cold water and sipped throughout the day, during travel, in the morning as well as the evening” says Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, Medical Advisory Board Member, Nutritional Magnesium Association.

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Lighting holiday candles: Notice how long it takes the wick of the candle to light. Notice the color and shape of the flame and any heat emanating from it.

Shopping: Notice what you hear in the store, including the sounds of shoppers, salespeople, music and even holiday volunteers, ringing their bells for charity outside the store’s entrance.

Holiday gatherings: See if you can be fully present to those you interact with, listening to them fully without your mind wandering to past and future events.

Unwrapping presents: Notice the color or pattern of the wrapping, how tightly or loosely it is wrapped and the sound it makes as you tear the paper.

Holiday meals: See if you can take your time eating, being fully present with your five senses, noticing smells, tastes, textures, and colors.

5. They Gift Experiences When you have lost someone special, holiday seasons can be a difficult time to celebrate. “Since losing a loved one 5 years ago, I felt like holiday gift giving was missing something,” says Candace Yaeger, a Philadelphia based success coach. Yaeger was able to create a new tradition to help with the idea of giving.

“I started gifting family members with experiences. I prefer to plan something to do together that will build new memories. I found that my family would be less stressed about the holidays, and more focused on the new adventure together”. Yaeger fondly reflects on the time her brother and sister-in-law took a mixology class together, as well as the cello rock concert attended by her entire family.

6. They Set the Tone Affirmations are a great way to inspire, energize and motivate yourself during the holiday season. Repeating affirmations, and the resultant mental images, affect the subconscious mind, which in turn, influences the behavior, habits, actions and reactions. “At night before I go to bed I say, Tomorrow is going to be a successful day. The course of my day will flow flawlessly. In the morning before I even step out of the bed at 5 a.m. I say, Wow, everything I have ever wanted and dreamed of will happen today,” says Jessica Lundy TV Host/Motivational Speaker. Lundy believes that positive affirmations keep you focused during the holiday season, thus eliminating stress and anxiety from your life. “It’s nearly impossible to start and end your day with positivity and still be stressed,” says Lundy. n

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@PCS_AnthonyM

TECH TIME

______________________________

BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

The Best in Holiday Tech Gifts

H

ELLO, FRIENDS! It is that time of year where we have to talk about tech gifts. I want to ensure that you get big smiles from your friends and family during this holiday season. I’m going to suggest a few great gifts at various price ranges.

My personal favorite is the HTC Vive. This is a VR platform that will allow you to experience a virtual reality so real, it feels like actual reality. Aside from gaming, you can use this platform for learning or to have experiences such as visiting the Grand Canyon or fly to the moon.

That’s the good part. The bad part is that for the experience, you need to budget around $1,500 to $2,000 to do it right between the computer and VR unit.

Up next, (and sold out mostly everywhere) the NES [Nintendo Entertainment System] Classic. Unlike the above VR which is very pricey, this little box will only cost you around $60 and comes packed with about 30 classic NES games. This brings back a lot of the classics from when gaming was truly fun. This is already a big hit. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Mini-NES and Nintendo 64-based model on this major success.

How about the HairMax LaserBand 82? This might be a strange gift to give to someone, but this device is FDA cleared and proven to help people regenerate their hair follicles to grow stronger, and at $799, it is a great price point for someone who might want their hair to reclaim some of their cranial real estate.

Since 3D printing is becoming big, I’d like to share the XYZ Printing da Vinci Mini. This is a portable, wifi-enabled 3D printer. It sells for $289, which is a bargain in the 3D printing world and sure to make someone smile.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on what tech gifts you are buying. Feel free to reach out via email to me at Anthony@helpmepcs. com or let’s continue the conversation on Twitter @PCS_AnthonyM. I hope you had an amazing 2016, and looking forward to sharing more tech with you in 2017. n

HTC Vive

NES Classic

XYZ Printing da Vinci Mini

HairMax LaserBand 82

90

THE WINE

MAN

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY ROBERT KENNEDY

What’s Behind the Ratings

A

NYONE THAT HAS READ any of my columns will recall I’ve used the expression “drink what you like, regardless of the label or price point.” But is drinking and enjoying wine really that subjective? In my last column, I wrote about what it took to become a sommelier, and the investment in time, energy, and cost to become a Master Somm. I outlined the benefits of having an experienced professional such as a somm by your side when ordering wines in an upscale restaurant when

Judgment of Paris where 8 international judges were blindfolded and rated wines from best to worst. Make no mistake about it, some wine professionals would argue that wines should be viewed through very large, objective lenses. One might argue that ratings, awards and certificates make this an objective experience, right?

The mysteries of how wines are rated reveal themselves through many factors, including our olfactory acuity, nasal cavity and palate.

However, this becomes as much a preference as it does an objective. We all know the drill: A great bottle is opened and poured ever so gen-

Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly, there may be scientific factors at work here. What’s known is that there are psychological and even physiological reactions taking place within us, well in advance of the first sip. Reactors in our brain are getting set up to evaluate and assess based on our experiences. Our brain continues to be cognizant of flavors that are formed there, prior to the opening of that bottle. We come with preconceived notions about expectations, not unlike the response that Pavlov’s dog had.

Interaction begins to stir between many sensory receptacles in our brain. There is a belief that these functions are actually formed in our DNA during birth. So, our brains are filtering and processing complex information as we take our first sip, a process not necessarily learned.

e all know quality plays a key component in determining and assessing a good bottle over an average one. A bottle priced at $100 will scent and taste so much differently than a $10 bottle. Even the most novice of drinkers will rarely get that wrong. What becomes more difficult is when 2 bottles are similarly priced, such as 2 higherend bottles worth $135 and $150. Discerning these might perhaps be better left to the professionals. And, more times than not, most professionals will have common observances in the flavors and notes they see and taste—but not always. What one observes in scents and flavors, is not necessarily what another does.

More importantly, what one’s brain positively and favorably responds to might not be consistent with another’s response, making this more preferential than objective.

So, let’s not confuse quality with preference, and subjectivity with objectivity. At times, these might not align, and that’s ok.

Understanding that quality can be measured in ways that are considered objective, and preference can be considered subjective, it’s important to note that both together and separately, play a vital and important role in appreciating the true value of wine—no matter the label or price point. n

W

There are psychological and even physiological reactions taking place within us, well in advance of the first sip. pairing with food. As a wine professional, is there reason to believe that wine assessment is truly objective, and not at all subjective? Let’s look at the differences.

Some of the metrics wine professionals use to determine if a wine, appellation, and/or vintage are worthy of a recommendation are found in ratings and numerical scores. Awards are given to the best of the best. We saw that in the

tly into high quality stemware. Swirling begins as we visually inspect what viscosity is forming on the inner layers of the wine glass, making certain no sediment has cascaded from the bottle. As the wine is brought up to our nose, we begin to notice the aroma and bouquet from the glass. Upon tasting, we quickly assess the wine’s quality. Wow! Was this an objective experience or a subjective one?

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Got a question for Gerv?

SAY GERV?

Send your questions to: _______________________________________________________________________________

saygerv@jerseymanmagazine.com

BY GERVASE PETERSON

S

and look for his answers in the next issue!

ay Gerv? My wife got a job working for my ex-wife. Am I being unfair because I want her to quit?

– Perry, Philadelphia, PA

Perry, I have to admit that this is an awkward situation. My first reaction was, oh, hell yeah, she has to quit. Then I took a step back and thought about it. This seems like it’s more of a problem for you more than your wife. If your wife is okay working with your ex, which she must be since she took the job, then I don’t see a problem with it. I can see your many concerns like what if your ex-wife bad mouths you, what if she holds your wife back from moving up and growing with the company or what if they become friends. These are all valid concerns, but I think you have to give it a chance and see how things play out. I’m sure your wife is one smart cookie and she’ll be able to tell if your ex is doing some shady stuff.

Jobs are hard to come by, and jobs you love are even tougher, so if your wife has found one, that’s a good thing. Hey Perry, if your wife is happy and the ex is happy, maybe it’s time for you to let that stuff go and be happy yourself. _________________________________________ Say Gerv? How do I explain all the crazy things going on in the world to my kids without traumatizing them?

“I WON’T LIE. I’VE RE-GIFTED A COUPLE OF TIMES. OKAY, A LOT OF TIMES.” to keep those lines of communication open. As long as your kids know that daddy loves them and he will always be there to protect them, they will be just fine. That’s why dads are the greatest parents. (Just don’t tell mom!) _________________________________________

rewarding. Hey, you can always use those old gifts for Pollyanna or Dirty Santa. _________________________________________

Say Gerv? Can I re-gift a gift to someone for a Christmas gift?

– Ryan, Voorhees, NJ

– Ray, West Deptford, NJ

– Brandon, Atlantic City, NJ

Ray, you don’t have to explain everything to your kids, and they don’t need to know everything that’s going on. If they hear something that troubles them, sit them down and discuss it with them. You don’t have to give them all the gory details, but you can give them enough information so that they know what’s going on and that they feel safe. There are bad people in the world, but there are way more good people.

Kids are smart and they’re going to hear things in school, from friends or from family. We want them to stay innocent for as long as possible.

We want to protect them from ever being hurt, but that’s not realistic or healthy. Lying to them and giving them wrong information just to spare their feelings will only hurt them in the long run. Honesty is always the best policy.

And you need to be even more diligent nowadays because in the technological age, kids have access to information 24/7, right at their fingertips. That’s why it’s even more important

Brandon, what is this, the gift that keeps on giving? Now I won’t lie. I’ve re-gifted a couple of times. Okay, a lot of times. The way I look at it is, why toss a gift in the garage to collect dust that you don’t like or want? It’s even worse to throw it away, so why not give it to someone who will really enjoy it. The person you’re giving the gift to will never know you didn’t go out and handpick it yourself. They won’t know that you didn’t put the time and effort into finding it. They won’t know you didn’t put any thought into it. So I guess if that’s the case, it means it really doesn’t count? Geez this is starting to sound bad, Brandon. And I just admitted that I’m a notorious regifter. Thanks a lot buddy, smh. (Editor’s note: For those over a certain age who may be unfamiliar with this term, the acronym “smh” is used when texting for “shaking my head.”)

Okay, so what did we learn today? Re-gifting is okay unless you do it a lot, but putting the time and effort into finding the perfect gift is more

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Say Gerv? My best friend and my girlfriend talk on the phone all the time, but I never talk to his girlfriend. Is this a violation?

Ryan, it’s not a violation, but I can see where it would make you feel uncomfortable. The question you need to ask yourself is: do you trust your best friend and do you trust your girlfriend? If your answer is yes, then you’re good, so put any crazy ideas you have to rest. If you’re answer is no then you have a big problem. Everybody always wants their best friend and the person they’re dating to get along, and it seems like you have that. If they hated each other I’m sure the tension and uncomfortableness would be exhausting. You wouldn’t be able to have the two people who mean the most to you in the same room and that would stink. So be happy that they get along and don’t think you have to be all buddy-buddy with your BF’s girlfriend. And if you don’t click with her the same way, that’s fine.

You already have the best of both worlds. n Gervase Peterson was a cast member on the reality series “Survivor.” Gerv is an actor and entrepreneur and keeps busy fulfilling personal appearance requests and speaking engagements all across the country.