SHORE LOCAL | Сoastal | November 10, 2022

Capturing the moments

class. While I learned so much about photography, lighting, and editing, my biggest takeaway was a personal one.

From the Editor

November, to me, is always a gentle invitation to take a deep breath. In between the buzz of summer and the chaos of the holidays, there are a few weeks when the leaves are falling, the weather is slowly cooling down, and families are beginning to settle in for a few cold winter nights. With a warm cup of tea in my hand and a cozy blanket by the fireplace, I find myself in a deep sense of grati tude every November.

As 2022 winds down, I am making an intentional effort to be fully pres ent in my life. Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in a fourweek photography class led by pro fessional photographer Dan myers. The free class was sponsored by the Somers Point Arts Commission. For two hours every Wednesday night, I attended this incredibly inspirational

During one of Dan’s lessons, he mentioned something that caught my attention. He explained that cameras can capture approximately 17 colors, whereas our eyes capture around 1 million. He went on to explain that a photographer’s goal is to capture images as close to our visual percep tion as possible. This got my wheels spinning! I love the artistry behind photography and the ability to cap ture moments in a flash. I wonder, though, how often we miss out on the million other colors available to our senses while we are hidden behind our smartphones. Some moments are simply meant to be experienced and captured in the mind’s eye, stored forever in the memory banks.

I began to wonder how often I missed truly seeing something or someone because I was too busy trying to capture it with my phone. I think about how difficult it is to capture the true beauty of the moon or a breathtaking sunrise and am reminded that, how our eyes inter pret the world around us is a miracle that can not be captured in a fleeting moment.

Since this personal epiphany, as meaningful moments have come up, I’ve paused before picking up my phone or camera. I sit in a moment of stillness and gratitude as I soak the moment into my heart. As we head into the holiday season, I encourage

you to take the same pause. Find gratitude in the little moments and try to capture them in your heart before you bring your phone into the mix.

Speaking of gratitude, veterans Day is November 11th. I can not think of a holiday more deserving of deep gratitude than veterans Day. As the old saying goes, “freedom is not free.” o ur veterans and their families have paid the ultimate price for the free doms we so often take for granted. This veterans Day, and every day, I encourage you to go out of your way to thank a veteran in your life. Whether you support veteran-owned businesses, support a worthy cause, or send a hand-written note of grati tude to a veteran, there are countless ways to show love and appreciation this November.

Gratitude is the focus this month as we round out another beautiful year at Shore Local. We invite you to stay present, be thankful, and al ways shop local. As always, we are so thankful for our readers, advertisers, and supporters at Shore Local! It’s all possible because of YoU. Thank you!

& Love, Cindy

Peace

10 Years after Sandy: Lessons learned

Weather

By Dan Skeldon

Sandy. It’s a name that’s officially retired from the list of Atlantic hurricane names, never to be used again.

The storm is long gone, just over a decade and a week passed now. The waters have long since receded. Communities have been rebuilt. b ut the memories of the storm will never be washed away.

With every forecast and every life-changing storm, a humble yet dil igent meteorologist will go back and dissect the event. Not just the forecast itself, but the messaging, the public ac tion or inaction, and the intangibles. So what did we learn from Sandy? Some lessons were clear before the floodwa ters even receded, while others took longer to develop.

● m eteorologically speaking, the forecast was a pinnacle of sorts,

proof of the advancements made in hurricane forecasting over the years. Warning of the storm’s ap proach was made almost a week in advance, giving residents and vacationers ample time to prepare and evacuate. It was a foil to the lack of warning that preceded the June 2012 derecho, just four months prior.

● Despite the advanced warning, over three dozen New Jerseyans lost their lives from Sandy. To meteo rologists, that’s heartbreaking and disheartening at the same time. The loss of life is partly due to human nature, and refusal to evacuate and heed warnings. Sandy is sometimes called a “generational” storm. And in some respects, it was. After all, how many late october hurricanes make a left turn into New Jersey? The answer: only Sandy. b ut be cause many who endured Sandy had never witnessed a direct strike from a hurricane, there was a lack of appreciation for what the true wrath of a hurricane can do. Like wise, there was a sense of immunity of sorts, a misconception that the worst wind and storm surge would never hit the Jersey Shore. m ore than anything else, our “once-in-a-

lifetime” storm taught us a lifelong lesson: it can happen here!

● South Jerseyans also learned that no two storms are alike. Had Irene not happened just 13 months prior and largely left South Jersey un scathed compared to surrounding areas, Sandy may have been viewed through more unbiased eyes. b ut an unfortunately widespread mis conception was that because Irene wasn’t as bad as expected, Sandy would follow suit. Despite some intensely passionate pleas to the contrary from the meteorological community, sometimes it takes more than words to correct a mis conception.

● A National Hurricane Center policy to not issue hurricane warnings when a hurricane was expected to “lose tropical characteristics” didn’t help quell the confusion either. No hurricane warnings were issued for South Jersey in advance of Sandy, because Sandy was expected to “weaken” to a “post-tropical” storm before landfall. It “technically” did (although I still believe that decades later, Sandy will be reclassified as a hurricane at landfall when all the data is analyzed). but consider that Irene had warnings, and we were spared. No warnings were issued for Sandy, the water was colder, and we’re almost into November. I can’t fault people for not taking it more seriously. We all know the reality though: Sandy did not “weaken”, and fully behaved like a hurricane, from wind to storm surge to rain, as it made landfall in brigantine. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. As it turns out, the same is true with hurricanes. And largely due to Sandy, the Na tional Hurricane Center changed its practice, and now issues hurri cane warnings even when a system isn’t purely tropical any longer. The impact will be the same, and it’s important the messaging reflects that!

● Sandy was a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of 75 mph at landfall. but it had the storm surge of a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, especially in North Jersey. The “Saffir-Simpson” Cate gory scale is based only on winds,

and maybe one day, a new scale to take all hurricane impacts will be devised. The National Hurricane Center now also issues storm surge warnings ahead of tropical systems, a new practice post-Sandy. It high lights the storm surge, often the most deadly, destructive, and least understood part of a hurricane.

● Sandy reminded all of us that not only is South Jersey not immune to tropical systems, but that hurricane season runs through November 30th for a reason. And sure enough, “Nicole” is a tropical system that will run up the east Coast with rain and wind around veterans Day this year, after first striking Florida.

● on a personal note, Sandy reminded me (and many of us) that tragedy brings out the best in so many, and that was certainly true of the South Jersey community. I remember that my former N bC40 co-anchor m i chelle Dawn m ooney and I myself started a collection drive (through N b C40) after Sandy to fill one donated box truck with hurricane supplies for those impacted from the storm. We camped out in the N bC40 parking lot, and at the end of a four-day stretch, we filled not one, but 14 box trucks that I remember driving to schools and community distribution centers from cities up and down the Atlan tic and Cape may County shoreline. While the Sandy forecast may have been one of the best predictions I’ve made as a meteorologist for over two decades, it was the days that followed the storm that were the most fulfilling moments of my long career.

● As a generational storm, Sandy sparked a renewed drive towards resiliency for our coastal commu nities. Higher building elevations, better flood control measures, the importance of a good dune system, and elevated roadways and evacua tion routes are just some examples. There will never be another Sandy. but whatever the next storm is called, we’ll hopefully be better prepared be cause of Sandy.

Meteorologist Dan Skeldon has a degree in meteorology from Cornell University. He has forecasted the weather in South Jersey for the last 18 years, first on the former television station NBC40 and then on Longport Media radio. Dan has earned the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval for Broadcast Meteorologists, and now does television broadcasts on WFMZTV in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.

The Pinelands: A bountiful nature reserve, right in our backyard

plants and animals emerged. o nce the land was dry and warm, pine trees began to sprout from the soil as an evo lutionary response to the harsh cold.

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

America’s first nationally protected reserve is locat ed here in South Jersey.

A closer look reveals why the New Jersey Pine barrens is one of the most unique habitats in the world that’s well worth protecting and exploring.

Let’s jump back in time. According to the Pinelands Preservation Alli ance, the Atlantic Coastal Plain began to form about 200 million years ago. Starting 100 years ago, the Atlantic ocean repeatedly covered the coastal plain, then withdrew, leaving behind layers of geologic material in the area we know as the Pinelands.

As the earth changed at the end of the final Ice Age 12,000 years ago,

The Lenape people inhab ited South Jersey 2,000 years later. Colonization by european nations began in the mid-1600s. The Swedes, the Dutch, and b ritish forced out the native tribes. The europeans harvest ed cedar, oak and pitch pine trees to industrialize the area, establishing shipbuilding and saw mills.

In the 1740s, charcoal and bog iron resources were devel oped in the Pine barrens and the iron industry was born. Settlers built iron furnaces including the one at batsto village. Iron from the Pine barrens was vital during the revolutionary War and War of 1812 for cannons and can nonballs.

The pitch pine is the most common and characteristic organism of the Pine Barrens, occupying more than 700,000 acres of New Jersey.

The Pine b arrens iron industry was eventually overshadowed by Pennsylvania iron, which was of

higher quality and could be produced more cheaply, leaving batsto village and other Pine barrens iron towns without work. residents left in search of employment, turning these for merly bustling hubs into ghost towns. o ther industries in the Pinelands like glassblowing, cranberry farming,

cotton and paper milling carried on for a time but never reached scale of the iron industry.

o ver the years the Pine b arrens has been associated with ghoulish mysteries, legends and folklore in volving monsters. most famously, the Jersey Devil is said to have been born

o ther than a few early aviation crashes in the 1920s, the Pine bar rens remained mostly untouched and in obscurity moving into the 20th century. Locals kept to themselves and managed small family cranberry or blueberry farms. The area’s sandy soil deemed the land poor for farming many crops, and its earth deposits such as sand, gravel, and clay could not compare to the oil, coal, and iron of Northeastern and Western Penn sylvania.

Philadelphia urbanites called these backwoods families “pineys,” a derogatory term implying unsophis tication and old-fashioned lifestyles. even as Atlantic City and other beach towns developed along the Jersey Shore, the Pinelands was affected minimally.

m eanwhile, residents of the Pine barrens worried that the dense forest would be destroyed and the water supply exploited to accommodate expansion of the Philadelphia sub urbs. The low cost of land in the pines tempted developers, and plans for a

Forest, and Penn State Forest. The area was designated a U.S. reserve by UN International 1988.

According to the New Jersey government website, the Pinelands National ties and covers 22 percent of land in the entire state. It is also the largest body of open space in the lantic region between richmond.

So why are the Pinelands worth preserving? Well, protecting the regional water supply is one reason. It's home to the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, a 17 trillion-gallon under ground water supply that serves all of South Jersey.

It’s also habitat to dozens of rare plants and animals, attracting hun dreds of biologists worldwide. almost 40 native species, explorers may stumble upon a beaver, rattle snakes, barred owl, snapping turtle, eastern ribbon snake, wild turkey, and screech owl.

o ne of the rarest creatures of the Pinelands is the Pine barrens tree frog, which has become even more rare due to habitat loss. The amphib ian is most commonly found in South Jersey, but also exists in North and South Carolina as well as Alabama. In 1983, Andy Warhol created a print series based on the species to raise awareness of the need for environ mental protection.

The Pinelands Preservation Alli ance reports that the reserve is home to eight species of gymnosperms (plants like the pine trees that do not produce true flow ers), 800 species of flowering plants (angiosperms), 25 species of ferns, 274 mosses, and at least 100 (but probably 300-400) species of fungi.

The pitch pine is the most common and characteristic organism of the Pine b arrens, oc cupying more than 700,000 acres of New Jersey. These trees are known for their thick, resin ous bark and deep roots, which allow them to thrive in drought conditions or parasitic infes tations. The pine needles from these trees are the main food source for rabbits, mice, and birds that co-habitate in this ecosystem.

Pitch pines have an incredible quality that excites scientists and tree-lovers across the planet: they can grow new branches from their trunks and even their roots. Their thick bark protects them from most forest fires, so they can regenerate after almost all fire damage. After the Wharton Forest fire in June, many observed burnt-black trees sprouting little green growths from the ashes.

Also, the pine cones of this species are opened through extreme heat, ensuring new life in a forest decimat ed by fire. This evolutionary adapta tion allows pitch pines to compete against oaks, whose acorns typically allow the tree family to grow quickly and easily.

In a fire (which is fed through the hundreds of needles on the forest floor), pitch pines will win out. over all, pines beat oaks by taking in more sunlight, utilizing more water, and absorbing more minerals.

b eneath the iconic pitch pines,

rare flowers blossom along the for est’s understory. The Pine barrens gentian, bog asphodel, swamp pink, and dozens of variations of orchids survive exclusively in the Pinelands.

m ost astonishingly, carnivorous plants have taken over the Pine b arrens. Sundews, bladderworts, and pitcher plants have developed behaviors to entice creatures and then swallow them up. Pitcher plants release aromas that tempt insects. When they land on the plant, they are trapped. bladderworts, as their name implies, have tiny sacs embedded in the soil near their roots and suck up small bugs to immediately digest.

The ecosystem is marked by its low acidity and low-nutrient water and soil. Like the northern forests of maine and the everglades of Flor ida, the Pinelands make New Jersey distinct and wild. Locals and tourists can enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking and searching for the Jersey Devil. m ost importantly, locals, particularly in South Jersey, enjoy the clean air, clean water, and beautiful scenery that comes with celebrating the Pine barrens as our home and neighbor hood.

Sarah Fertsch was born and raised in Egg Harbor Township, and holds a dual degree in public relations and political science. Prior to joining Shore Local full-time, she worked at a CSPAN affiliate, writing about Pennsylvania legislation. When she isn't writing, Sarah enjoys painting, horseback riding, and Crossfit.

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Events and Happenings

Thursday, November 10th Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto

▶Thursday, November 10th – Sunday, November 13th

Jim Whelan boardwalk Hall 2301 board walk, Atlantic City

Step inside the magical adventure’s of Disney’s Frozen and encanto as they are brought to life like never before at Disney on Ice. Tickets available via Ticketmaster and boardwalk Hall box office. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 7pm, Saturday 12pm & 4pm, and Sunday 12pm.

Friday, November 11th Ocean City Veterans Day Program

▶11am

ocean City Tabernacle 550 Wesley Ave.

For more information, visit oceancity vacation.com.

Somers Point Veterans Day Service

▶11am

Patriots Park bethel road and 1st Street

The City of Somers Point will host its veterans Day Service on Friday, November 11. The city will honor all those who dedi cated their lives to serve and protect this nation in the U.S. military.

Christmas Bazaar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

▶Friday, November 11th from 11am7pm and Sunday, November 12th from 10am-7pm

St. elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church 591 New Jersey Ave. Absecon

The Christmas bazaar at St. elizabeth Ann Seton will include crafters, a White elephant room, baked goods, and our wonderful Christmas raffles. on Friday at noon, we will honor veterans with a com plimentary lunch. Lunch and dinner will be served both days with a Pasta Dinner on Saturday. For further information, contact v. Lutz at 609-457-0822.

Atlantic County Veterans Day Program

▶2pm

meadowview Nursing and rehabilitation Center 235 Dolphin Ave. Northfield

Atlantic County e xecutive Dennis Levinson and the Atlantic County veter ans Advisory board will recognize 20 U.S. military veterans and current residents of meadowview for their sacrifice and service to our country. Honorees represent the Army, Navy, Air Force, marines and Nation al Guard. The ceremony will include the presentation of certificates, color guard, patriotic songs, and readings. The program will be held in the courtyard behind mead owview, weather permitting.

Egg Harbor City Veterans Day Program

▶6:30pm

American Legion Hall 527 Philadelphia Ave.

American Legion Post 528 and the City of egg Harbor will present their veterans Day Program, Honoring o ur veterans for their Service, with a performance by Cedar Creek High School marching band. o pen

House at the Post and refreshments fol lowing the event. This is an outdoor event; chairs not provided.

Saturday, November 12th Winterfest by the Sea

▶9am-5pm

ocean City Civic Center

The ocean City Chamber of Commerce presents their third annual Winterfest by the Sea Holiday Shopping e xtravaganza. The event will include craft vendors, food vendors, and strolling Santa.

4H Model Train Show Open House

▶9am-5pm

Atlantic County 4H Fairgrounds 3210 route 50, mays Landing

Atlantic County 4H hosts its m odel railroad open House, featuring “o,” “Ho,” “N” Scale Layouts and combined TTr AK modular layouts. Snacks and refreshments available.

Northfield Fall Market

▶10am-4pm

Grace & Glory Yoga 1600 New rd. Northfield

Grace & Glory is elated to host its Annual Fall market, co-hosted At-Anchor Day Space & beach b uns bakery. A portion of sales from each vendor will be donated to Angels in motion Atlantic City and The Leadership Studio of Atlantic City. Come browse your favorite local makers, crafters, and sellers, and get a head start on holiday shopping.

Princess and Pirates Day

▶11am-2pm

Cape may County Park and Zoo 707 route 9 North, Cape may Court House

visitors of all ages are invited to wear their best dress up apparel to this fun fam ily event, which includes activities for the kids, craft station, games, entertainment, animals, inflatable pirate ship and more. This event is free and open to the public.

Bay Atlantic Symphony: Veterans Day Concert

▶7:30pm

Stockton Performing Arts Center 101 vera King Ferris Dr. Galloway bay Atlantic Symphony’s free veterans Day concert will be full of marches and pa triotic tunes that will have you tapping your toes to the beat. The veterans Day Concert is free to all, but advance reservation tickets are required to attend. For tickets and more information, call 609-652-9000 or visit stockton.edu/pac.

Tuesday, November 15th

OCUT Sustainable Book Club

▶7pm

The Sustainable book Club of o cean City and Upper Township will be discussing Imaginable by Jane mcGonigal this Tuesday. register in advance to receive the Zoom link for this meeting by going to bit.ly/ SbG15NovZoom.

Dance Society

▶Tuesdays at 7:30pm

Somers Point Fire Co. 1 455 bethel rd.

Somers Point

enjoy an evening of social dancing and line dancing at the Fire Company Hall. Ad mission is $10 per person. For more infor mation, contact rita voli at (609) 408-3619.

Wednesday, November 16th

Positivity Project: Evening Retreat ▶7pm

Shed the cares of the day and prepare for a restful night. We’ll cover a wide range of topics including self-care, mindfulness, gratitude, meditation, resiliency, and more. rSvP by November 10 by contacting Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@jfs atlantic.org.

Tom Angello’s All Star Jazz Series ▶7pm

Gregory’s restaurant and b ar 900 Shore rd. Somers Point

Tom Angello’s All Star Jazz Series re turns to Gregory’s, with guest musicians Gabrielle Stravelli on vocals, Art Hirahara on piano, and Pat o’Leary on bass. Presented by the South Jersey Jazz Society. The event is free to attend, but reservations are required. Call 609-927-6665 for more information.

Friday, November 18th

Charity League Christmas Mart ▶Friday, November 18th 10am-8pm & Saturday, November 19th 10am-4pm

Greate bay Country Club

After a two year hiatus, the Charity League’s Christmas m art is back. Shop through a wide selection of Charity League’s beautiful handmade items, won derful vendors, photos with Santa, gently used and new treasure and much more.

Saturday, November 19th

Earlier than the Bird

▶9am-5pm

Downtown Asbury Avenue, ocean City

Get out earlier than the bird and jump start your holiday shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving. Shop in your pajamas for early bird shopping specials.

Horse & Carriage Rides in Ocean City

▶12-3pm

6th & Asbury Avenue

enjoy Horse and Carriage rides along Downtown Asbury Avenue. For more infor mation, visit oceancityvacation.com.

Sunday, November 20th

Eagles Tailgate Party

▶11am-5pm

Ski beach Dorset & burke Ave. ventnor Watch the eagles vs. Colts on a large 18 foot LeD Screen on Ski beach. enjoy craft ers, food vendors, face painters, and more. visit ventnorcity.org for more information.

Brigantine Art Walk Holiday Show and Sale

▶12-5pm

The Cove 3700 brigantine blvd.

Join brigantine Art Walk for an after noon of art and complimentary appetizers while doing your holiday shopping and supporting our local artists. This season’s event will feature many artists specializing in photography, jewelry, painting, and oth er various art media.

Monday, November 21st Evening Yoga

▶7pm

Join Yoga class via Zoom. Find balance and tranquility while experiencing mental, physiological, and spiritual rejuvenation. rSvP by November 16 by contacting Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@ jfsatlantic.org.

Health and Wellness

NAMI Connections and Family Support Groups

▶monday, November 14 at 7pm

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 606 Shore rd. Somers Point

NAm I Connection is a recovery sup port group for adults (18+) with a mental health condition. Family Support Group is a support group for adult friends and family members of people with a mental health condition. For more information and to register for all support groups please visit ww.namiacm.org or call 609-741-5125.

Dementia Support Group

▶Wednesday, November 16 at 2pm

earth Angels for Dementia 115 route 50, mays Landing

Held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. Call Diane Conover at 609402-6966 for more information.

Virtual NAMI Family Support Group on Zoom

▶Wednesday, November 23 from 7-8:30pm

NAm I is offering a virtual Family Sup port Group on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Links for this Zoom meeting can be found on www.namiacm.org

Fall in Love with Wellness

Practice Linwood 199 New rd. Lin wood

Practice Linwood is offering classes completely free in November. Practice in a small group training studio, focused on intentional movement to strengthen your body and increase vitality for long term health and wellness. All exercise levels from experienced athlete to beginner welcome. For more information, call (609) 289-2300.

Mental Health Support and Discussion Groups

o nline groups are offered daily for a variety of topics, including women, men, LGbTQIA+, individuals aged 18-30. boom ers, anxiety, depression, eating disorder, and many others. Groups are also provided to individuals with a family member who lives with a mental health challenge. To receive a full list and to register, call 609652-3800 or unitedbywellness@mhanj.org

Recovery Groups

more than a dozen groups for individu als living with substance use disorder are offered online. Topics range from mental health/wellness to employment, faith, and more. Groups are provided 7 days a week. Interested participants can register for groups through unitedbywellness@mhanj. org or by calling the m ental Health Associ ation in Atlantic County at 609-652-3800.

Wellness Groups

A wide variety of online groups are offered to enhance wellness and introduce interested participants to ways they can improve their day-to-day mental health. These daily groups include meditation, art, music, journaling, eating healthy, exercise, spirituality, adult coloring, gratitude, and more. Provided by United by Wellness/ m ental Health Association in Atlantic County. To register and receive links by email, call 609-652-3800 or unitedbywell ness@mhanj.org.

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, November 10th

Bob Hood 6-8pm. Gregory’s 900 Shore rd. Somers Point

Doug Jennings 6-9pm. bocca 7805 ventnor Ave. margate Party Wave Band 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock

1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

DJ Pat Conlon 8pm. villain & Saint at ocean. 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Friday, November 11th

The Morning After 5-9pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Brielle Von Hugel Trio 6-10pm Council oak at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Indelible Groove Trio 6pm villain & Saint at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Stephanie Owens 6:30-9:30pm bocca. 7805 ventnor Ave. margate Go Ham 7:30pm. Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern. 316 roosevelt blvd. marmora Foreigner 8pm. Hard rock Live at etess Arena. 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Michelle DeAngelis 8-11pm

Tennessee Avenue beer Hall 133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

No Clue Trio 8-11pm. Caroline’s by the bay. 455 bay Ave. Somers Point Ludacris 9pm. Tropicana Showroom 2831 boardwalk, Atlantic City

TJ Young 9:30pm. 1927 Lounge at ocean. 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City Epic Soul 10pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City Lost in Paris 10pm. The Yard at bally’s 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Triple Rail Turn 10pm mountain bar at Wild Wild West 2100 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Saturday, November 12th

Mystery Machine 12-4pm

renault Winery 72 N. bremen Ave. egg Harbor City

Dane Anthony Band 1-4:30pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

The Jerry Weldon Quartet 4pm

ocean City Arts Center

1735 Simpson Ave. ocean City

Rob Lipkin 5:30-8:30pm. Tuckahoe Inn 1 Harbor rd. beesley’s Point

Black Car Gina Trio 6pm

villain & Saint at ocean

500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Guest Band 6-10pm

Caroline’s by the bay 455 bay Ave. Somers Point

No Clue Trio 7-10pm. bocca 7805 ventnor Ave. margate

The Way Outs 7pm

Nola’s bar & Lounge at ocean

500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Petty Cash 7:30pm

Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern

316 roosevelt blvd. marmora Blackmore’s Night w/ Wizard’s Consort 8pm. The music box at borgata. 1 borgata Way, Atlantic City

Dead Reckoning Duo 8-11pm

Tennessee Avenue beer Hall

133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Eros Ramazzotti 8pm

Hard rock Live at etess Arena 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Philly Keys Solo 8pm-12am

renault Winery

72 N. bremen Ave. egg Harbor City

Amanda & Teddy Band 10pm

villain & Saint at ocean

500 boardwalk, Atlantic City Royals 10pm. The Yard at bally’s 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Steal the Sky 10pm.

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Sunday, November 13th

Traditional Irish Open Session 1-4pm

Josie Kelly’s Public House 908 Shore rd. Somers Point Indelible Groove Duo 3-7pm

Caroline’s by the bay 455 bay Ave. Somers Point BMW+ 4-7:30pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City Dance to the Music: A 60’s Celebration 4pm. Sound Waves at Hard rock. 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City DJ Luap 8pm. Nola’s bar & Lounge at ocean. 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

The Neptunes 8:30pm-12am

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Monday, November 14th

Kicking Sunrise 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Tuesday, November 15th

Fat Mezz 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Wednesday, November 16th

Danny Eyer 5:30-8:30pm. Tuckahoe Inn. 1 Harbor rd. beesley’s Point

40 North Country 6pm

villain & Saint at ocean

500 boardwalk, Atlantic City Brogan, Monroe & Walton 6:309:30pm. Josie Kelly’s Public House

908 Shore rd. Somers Point

Jazz by the Bob Sterling Band 7-10pm bocca. 7805 ventnor Ave. margate Tom Angello’s All Star Jazz Series w/ Gabrielle Stravelli 7-8:30pm. Gregory’s. 900 Shore rd. Somers Point Events subject to change.

HARVEST MENU

OCTOBERFEST MENU

BRAISED SHORT RIBS 22 over roasted shallots and smoked Gouda mashed potatoes topped with celery root noodles SAUTEED SCALLOPS 30 over pumpkin risotto with an apple cider reduction sauce.

POMEGRANATE GLAZED SALMON 23 over butternut squash, garden peas & corn succotash TUSCAN BRAISED CHICKEN 18 braised thighs with kale, white bean and sun-dried tomatoes topped with arugula pesto

APPLE CIDER INJECTED PRIME PORK CHOP 28 Amaretto crusted pork chop served over seasonal vegetable with an apple cider demi glaze

SAUSAGE PLATTER 22 grilled Weisswurst & Bratwurst served with 3 mustards & beer cheese, served over braised red cabbage & housemade spaetzle PORK OR CHICKEN SCHNITZEL 18 over braised red cabbage & housemade spaetzle

SAUERBRATEN 25 braised beef in a sweet & sour sauce over braised red cabbage & housemade spaetzle

Somers Mansion: a 300 year-old treasure

Legend of an Underground Tunnel

By Bob Fertsch

Richard Somers appreciated a waterfront view like most people today. Perched on a bluff overlooking the bay, he picked an excellent location when he built his homestead back in the 1700’s. The Somers mansion still stands as a prominent fixture in the town that bears his name. It is the oldest house in Atlantic Coun ty. b uilt between 1720 and 1726 by richard Somers, the three-story brick building and two-acre property has remained the same while the area around it has changed, including a traffic circle (come and gone) and a bridge (and then another) to o cean City.

richard Somers operated the first ferry across Great egg Harbor bay. During the War of 1812, residents of Somers Point, including 12 members of the Somers family, formed an in fantry unit of the New Jersey m ilitia to protect the coast. A memorial now stands nearby on the Somers Point beach, at the site of the fort they built to memorialize the men who defend ed the shores of Somers Point during

the years 1812-1815.

The Somers m ansion prop erty remained in the Somers Family until 1937 when it was deeded to the Atlantic County Historical Society for the pur pose of creating a permanent memorial to the Somers Family. In 1941, the State of New Jersey acquired the property, and it was dedicated as a State Historic Site on September 26, 1942. Today, the mansion is furnished in eigh teenth century period pieces and features original furnishing used by the Somers Family. The mansion also hosts a collection of local his torical objects and textiles including local quilts, woven coverlets, and early samplers. It is open for tours on Saturday, and Sunday from 9am to 3:30pm.

The Patriots For The Somers man sion was established to preserve the site, encourage heritage tourism, and expand opportunities for locals and tourists alike to learn about the his tory of Atlantic County’s oldest build ing. Founded by concerned citizens in 2018, it is a registered non-profit organization. events and fundraising

have helped with renovations. o ne such event will take place Saturday, December 3. Shore Local in partner ship with the Patriots for the Somers m ansion will present the second annual "Christmas at the mansion”, a holiday festival including local mer chants, food trucks, live music and kids activities. The event culminates with a tree lighting at 5 pm by Somers Point mayor Jack Glasser.

The Somers Point tunnel, accord ing to legend, ran from the basement of the Somers mansion south to the water. It was said to have been used by smugglers and was supposed to

be a secret exit for those in the house if visited by pirates or the british during the revolution. In 1923, a report in the New York Times wrote about the discovery of a brick tunnel that began in the old braddock House, that sat on the hill behind the property. The headline read “ m uch Inter est in Somers Point Concerning mysterious Passageway”. A few years later Philadelphia newspa pers rushed staff photographers to Somers Point to get pictures of the mysterious cavern uncov ered by heavy seas which dislodged a section of the bluff along the bay front after a storm. Great excitement prevailed, as there was a story that a tunnel had been used as a “cache” by pirate Captain Kidd when he sailed off the coast. These reports brought treasure hunters to the site. Their shovels and picks turned over piles of dirt. but, alas, romance and mystery were dispelled when noth ing was found. The land in front of the property was excavated during reconstruction of the Somers Point Circle. No artifacts were found or any sign of the legendary tunnel.

Discover Ocean Outdoor Teak and Poly Outlet

As the cool, salty air settles in along the coast, many shore homeowners and business es are thinking of updating their outdoor spaces. When it comes to the indoor comforts of home outside, Ocean Outdoor Teak and Poly outlet is ready to help get the look you want with quality furniture that lasts.

Like many businesses, furniture retailers have faced a shortage of in coming inventory, leaving families and businesses without quality products to make their space look the best. Retailers across the country say that shipment issues are the primary cause of the shortage. Because most patio furniture makers work ou tside the United States, tariffs and taxes along with other inter national issues have been on the rise. This creates is creating big problems for homeowners and businesses alike. For tunately, local buyers need not to worry since this is n’t a problem for Ocean Outdoor Teak and Poly Outlet. They have new shipments coming in every week. Truckloads of beautiful, modern furniture are available for customers

quickly overtaking the outdoor market. Poly lumber is built mostly from recycled products and holds its color well. Com bine its color retention with stainless steel hardware, a variety of color combi nations and styles, and you may find that poly is the best choice for beach homes, vacation resorts or country living. It is extremely durable and resistant to nearly anything Mother Nature throws its way. Poly plastic furniture can be

Poly only needs to be cleaned with some good, old-fashioned soap and water.

Tables, chairs, deep seating sets and pub sets are ready to go to their new home today. Poly pub sets are popu lar at the shore. Two seat pub sets start at $950 and our four-seat pub sets with a pub table start at $1,400. Pub and bar sets are great because they allow couples and families to see over deck railings so their view is not obsured. These sets have the potential to make Ocean City, Sea Isle, and Margate customers very happy. The popular folding Adirondack Chairs start at $299. They are perfect for fire pits on cool autumn evenings. The Adirondack chairs sit low to the ground and offer a casual, relaxed feel. Alice reports they are selling very well to campers that seek comfort outdoors.

Landing, Beach Creek Oyster Bar to name of few. Our company has been in the New Jersey shore area for nearly 20 years. Our past stores in Cape May and Somers Point have been combined with one convenient store right in the middle, in Dennis Township. We offer white glove service from LBI to Cape May, Annapolis, Washington DC, and Ocean City Maryland.”

Call (609) 2871767 or check out www.TeakNearMe. com. For up-to-date information, check out their Facebook page, Teak Outlet - Ocean Outdoor Patio. Hurry and get beautiful new outdoor furniture so you can enjoy it now and for years to come.

to browse and purchase. “Because the outdoor season is relatively short here in New Jersey, it is important for us to stock enough furniture for our local cus tomers to have immediately,” says store owner Alice DiGiovanni. “We are ready now, with a full selection of colors and designs of both Poly and Teak furniture.”

Teak has always been the gold stan dard in outdoor tables and chairs but its new rival, Poly lumber furniture is

left outside in the summer and winter without any adverse effects. The plas tic is resistant to sun, rain, sleet, snow, wind, saltwater, chlorine and mildew. You can’t say that about furniture made from wood or metal.

Poly furniture is low maintenance and easy to care for; it requires no special coatings, sanding or staining. It does not require hazardous chemical treatments to maintain its durability.

After 15 years in Somers Point, The Teak and Poly Outlet moved to Cape May County. They are lo cated on Route 9 in Ocean View/ Clermont Cape May County. It's a beautiful area two miles south of exit 17 on the Garden State Parkway (Sea Isle exit). “We have a much larger store here and a lot of room to expand, with large outdoor displays, and a large workshop to finish and refinish our teak furniture.” says Alice’s daughter, Allison. “Over the years you may have seen our furniture at the Ocean City Yacht Club, Cape May-Lewes Ferry, Hyatt Penns

Raise a glass to

By David Setley

Veterans Day, our annual celebration to honor the service of American veter ans, is November 11, 2022.

The holiday, originally called Armistice

Day, commemorated the temporary cessation of combat in the First World War and occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th m onth in 1918. After WWII, the name of the holiday was changed to veterans Day, a day, according to the Department of veteran Affairs, to honor all living and deceased American veterans. o n this holiday I remember my father, bernard “ m ick” Setley, who served honorably in WWII as a member of the United States marine Corps. To all of our veterans, thank you for your selfless service to our country and our freedom.

A few notable wine brands have established associations with veteran organizations: 7Cellars and Fit vines. Legendary football player John elway established a partnership with rob mon davi, Jr., grandson of robert m ondavi, to create 7Cellars in California. With the sale of every bottle, the company donates to non-profit organizations, including Team rubicon. Team rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organiza tion that provides disaster and crises relief by pairing the knowledge and experience of military veterans with first responders, medical providers and disaster operations. I encourage you to visit the Team rubicon website (https:// teamrubiconusa.org/) to learn more about their amazing mission and their work with veterans. According to their website, 7Cellars donated over $15,000 to Team rubicon in 2020.

7Cellars offers the ‘Farm Collection’ brand of affordably priced wines. Folks who stopped in at a recent Wine Down Thursday at Passion vines in Somers Point were able to sample wines from the ‘Farm Collection’. Attendees were pleased with the quality of the wines and impressed with the reasonable prices. respected wine critics have also offered their praise of ‘Farm Collection’ wines:

● The ‘Farm Collection’ Cabernet Sau vignon earned a 91 Point rating from The Tasting Panel magazine and was described as “lush and smooth,” with a “silky palate (that) features lots of plum and a hint of herbs.”

● The collection’s Pinot Noir earned a 93 Point rating and a “ b est b uy” from Gold m etal Tasting Institute, who described the pallet of the wine as “cherry cobbler, raspberry can dies, caramelized mushrooms, and candied aniseed.”

● Additionally, the Chardonnay was rated as a “ best b uy” by Wine and Spirits m agazine. This 100% Char donnay has a well-structured fruiti ness with just enough acidity to make it a perfect medium-bodied white for chicken, seafood, or cheese platters. The wine is aged in American oak for 9 months and provides a satisfying level of oak flavor and the classic buttery mouthfeel that California Chardonnays are famous for.

Fit Vines, another popular wine brand, also supports veterans by donating 25% of proceeds from the sale of their red Zinfandel wine to the Navy Seal Foundation. Like all Fit vine wines, the red Zinfandel is gluten free and vegan friendly, and utilizes a proprietary process to reduce tannins, sugars and histamines. visit the Navy Seal Foundation’s website (https:// www.navysealfoundation.org/) to learn about programs for Seals, Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen, veterans, and their families, including educational scholarships, support to assist veterans in reconnecting with the community and civilian life, medical and emotional support services, and more.

This veterans Day, consider ways to support those who serve(d) our nation; raise a glass to our American Heroes! If you have questions or comments, please reach out at dsetley@passionvines.com. Happy wining!

David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.

Veterans Day facts and figures

Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated on November 11, 1919, the anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1928, the United States Congress passed a resolution for Armistice Day to be an annual obser vation, and by 1938, the day became a national holiday.

Differing from m emorial Day in m ay, Armistice Day, which would be renamed veterans Day in 1954 under President Dwight eisenhower, pays tribute to veterans who survived various wars. m emorial Day commem orates those veterans who lost their lives.

Americans celebrate veterans Day, while residents of Great britain, Canada and Australia celebrate remembrance Day. Those who want to learn more about veterans Day can consider the following facts.

● California, Texas and Florida com prise the states with the largest number of veterans, equalling one million or more.

● veterans consist of people who served in the military. This includes the Army, Navy, marine Corps, Air

Force, and Coast Guard. veterans serve in times of war and peace.

● The word "veteran" comes from the o ld english language and means "old, experienced soldier." The first use of the word was documented in 1789.

● b etween 1971 and 1977, veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth monday in october. It was changed back to its original date, November 11, in 1975 when President Gerald Ford signed bill S.331 into law. The change went into effect beginning in 1978.

● An American soldier was buried at the national cemetery in Arlington on November 11, 1921. His identity was unknown, and the gravesite is known as the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." A guard from the Society of the Honor Guard stands watch over the grave each year on veterans Day, and the president or another high-ranking member of the govern ment places a wreath on the grave. veterans Day occurs each year on November 11, marking the end of World War I. The day has evolved into a celebration and remembrance of the heroism of America's brave soldiers.

Charity League Christmas Mart returns Nov. 18-19

By James FitzPatrick Contributing Writer

There will be a feeling of Christmas in the air when the Charity League of At lantic County holds its 75th Annual Christmas mart Nov. 18 and 19 at Greate bay Country Club in Somers Point.

If you like your Christmas hand made and full of tradition, then the Christmas mart should be your first stop this holiday shopping season. There you will find heirloom quality Christmas stockings, ornaments, ta ble runners, and tree skirts for sale, all made by women of the Charity League. Homemade cookies, pies, candies and cheese balls will be available for your holiday table. m ore than 20 vendors will showcase their apparel, woodcrafts, and kids' toys. but the star of the show, perhaps more than Santa himself, is the Char ity League holiday pin.

m ore than 5,300 of them have been sequined, sewn, assembled and detailed in preparation for the Christmas mart by the 40 active and 30 associate members of the Charity League of Atlantic County. If things go according to form, the pin will be sold out by the end of the first day, said Andrea Worrall, Charity League president.

No one outside of the Charity League is supposed to know what the pin design is before mart day. It’s a

closely guarded secret, to be revealed when the event opens 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18. They’re a popular item with more than half pre-sold to members and people on the mailing list before the doors open.

"There's always some available to buy on the day of the event," Worrall said.

Pins are $25, which has held firm for the past decade. It’s a bargain considering that up to five hours of work goes into making one pin.

each pin comes with a lifetime guarantee. If you have an old pin that needs repair or restoration, you can take it to the mart. A member at the fixings table will take a look and see what can be done.

Despite the effort to maintain secrecy, there is no dramatic reveal moment. Worrall said it’s easy to fig ure out the design by noticing them pinned to the members' shirts.

The pins are heirlooms, often passed down from one generation to the next. They’re collectible, especial ly the older ones which were made in smaller quantities at a time when the felt base had to be cut by hand, the egg Harbor Township resident said.

Past designs have included snow flakes, ice skates, Christmas lights, mittens and snowmen. There have been Santas, candles, doves and candy canes.

If you have a particular pin you’re looking for, they usually have some old ones at the mart. They also show

up at estate sales and on ebay.

Worrall said past favorites have included the snowflake and the original ice skates. The first pin ever was a Christmas tree.

The Charity League of Atlan tic County began in 1935, a name change after being founded in 1932 as the Junior Committee of the Atlantic City Day Nursery.

In 1947, the first Christmas mart was held in a storefront on the cor ner of Pennsylvania and Atlantic avenues in Atlantic City. The pin made its debut in 1948.

The mart was held in various At lantic City locations before moving to the Atlantic City Country Club in 1977 and onto its current location, Greate bay Country Club, in 2007.

b etween the mart and other events, the Charity League raises about $150,000 each year in support of charities that help women and chil dren including Avanzar, The Covenant House, Atlantic City Day Nursery, The Center For Family Services, and the Donny Fund.

There are changes this year. In 2020 and 2021 there was a virtual mart due to covid, so this will be the first in-person mart since 2019.

Unlike previous years when tree skirts had to be custom-ordered a year in advance, they will be available on the spot, first come first served.

There will be changes in the baked goods, too.

The good news is there will be 18,000 spritz cookies in 308 tins baked by the members, plus pies and candies. but breads, always a popular item, will not be available.

Worrall said the high cost of in gredients and a lack of available work hours meant the mart favorite had to be eliminated.

She said it’s hard toget enough volunteers.

“A lot of people are willing to give money, but not of their time and it takes time,” she said. “For people to give that much of their time is a little bit unique nowadays.

“There used to be a waiting list

years ago to get into Charity League, but that's not the case anymore.”

The Charity League is always looking for new members.

To join you have to have three members co-sponsor your appli cation. You have to sequin 60 pins, put in 200 volunteer hours per year, and attend seven meetings per year. People from outside of the county can join as long as they meet the criteria.

“Sounds like a lot but it really isn’t,” said Worrall who first joined in 2009, served as president in 2014 and was named president again in 2021.

If you’re interested in joining just inquire at the pin table.

Worrall said they’re a dedicated group of women trying to do good for women and children in the county.

"It's so worthwhile because of the camaraderie of the women. If some body's down or they're going through sad times or good times, we’re all there for each other, and that's the most important thing.”

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. vendors will take credit cards, but the Charity League is cash or check only.

Greate bay is located at 901 mays Landing road in Somers Point.

Ocean City kicks off the holidays with 'Winterfest' gift & craft market Nov. 12

Ocean City Winterfest is a holiday shopping spec tacular where guests can enjoy the magic of the season while shopping at the holiday market. Winterfest will feature your favorite local businesses along with many local crafters. Jump start all your holiday gift giving needs at this “one stop” shopping event.

“ocean City, NJ shines year round. During the holidays, the island takes on a whole new light. We have a beautifully decorated Downtown and boardwalk and there is a wintery sense of excitement everywhere you look. We hope to help get people in the holiday spirit and promote shop ping local”, said michele Gillian, exec utive director of ocean City regional Chamber of Commerce.

Some of your favorite holiday characters will be strolling the market 11am- 1 pm to lend to the festivities. So join in the holiday spirit…shop, dine, and enjoy o cean City’s finest at Winterfest!

Winterfest is Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 am-5 pm, in the o cean City Sports and Civic Center located at 6th Street

and the boardwalk (parking entrance is on 5th Street).

For information, contact the o cean City Chamber of Commerce at 1-800- b eachNJ or visit online at www.o ceanCityvacation.com.

Photo by Steffen Klenk

Photo by Steffen Klenk

One fire engine, hundreds of stories:local resident’s dedication to service

fighter, and proud Air Force veteran. He began serving our country in 1948, when he was stationed in Guam during the Korean War. He served as a staff sergeant until 1952 and played for the Air Force’s men’s softball team.

By Steffen Klenk

uring this year’s Horsepow er by the bay car show in Somers Point, dozens of vintage vehicles, hot rods, and rarities were rolled out of the ga rage and put on display for all to see. There was one vehicle that captured my eye instantly. It was a custom-made 1975 m ACK 600 series pumper fire truck. The vehicle itself has all of the bells and whistles of any modern fire truck, equipped with lights and sirens, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) emblem, and a American flag and bald eagle etched carefully on the back with the words “Never Forget” in tribute to 9/11.

The vehicle has been brought to our area thanks to 92-year-old Sea Isle resident Lou m inchelli, a former fire

Several years afterward, in 1958, minchelli began working for FDNY. He fought during a time in New York City history known as the “war years.” In a time when many suburban areas were on the rise, between the mid-60s and 70s, the city faced an increase in ar son-related incidents. Fire departments struggled to keep volunteer staff and were called to upwards of 8,000 calls a year, half of them being false alarms. A national study conducted in 1973, under the name “America burning,” brought light to the problems firefighters had faced. It was because of this study that changes were made. In 1974, U.S. Congress passed the Federal Fire Pre vention and Control Act.

After serving as lieutenant for en gine 63 in Harlem, minchelli retired from FDNY in 1980. A short time afterward, he and his family moved to Sea Isle City. Upon re-locating, he ran a successful hot dog stand for 20 years, known

by locals as “Lou the Hot Dog m an.” m ost recently, he has made carefully designed trinkets shaped into turtles, each figure crafted using seashells. He has given away more than ten thousand of them to residents and visitors and has earned the nickname “Turtle Lou” by locals.

o n m arch 2, 2020, m inchelli cel ebrated his 90th birthday and was greeted to the sound of a custom m ack 600 fire truck, like the one he rode in New York City, given as a gift by his two sons, Joe and m ichael. His reaction was priceless. “He just kept shaking his head. He couldn’t believe it,” Joe minchelli recalls. Half a dozen

co-workers made the special journey to surprise minchelli.

Today, the mack 600 fire truck makes special appearances at local parades and car shows. most recently, his son Joe could be found in the driv er's seat along Asbury Avenue during o cean City’s Halloween Parade. The truck is slated to appear at Sea Isle City’s veterans Day Parade on Fri day, November 11th, followed shortly thereafter by the Cape may Christmas Parade.

every day, the brave men and women of local fire departments all throughout the country dedicate their lives to helping others, not only putting out fires but saving countless lives. minchelli’s devotion and dedication to service hasn’t gone unnoticed. He has received praise from local Congressio nal delegation and was given an official letter from The White House.

Steffen Klenk is a multimedia journalist. He resides in Ocean City and enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.

A Look Back

By Fred Miller

Forty years ago, Novem ber 13, 1982, the vietnam veterans m emorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated during a week-long na tional tribute to all veterans. The memorial Wall, designed by maya Lin, was dedicated to more than 58,000 Americans who died or were listed as missing in the vietnam War.

The vietnam veterans m emorial is near the Potomac river between the Lincoln m emorial and the Wash ington m onument. The land around the memorial is grassy and open like a park. It is a place for people to remember the servicemen and ser vicewomen who died in the vietnam War. It is the most visited monument in Washington.

more than 2.7 million served in the war. These soldiers were very young. m any were only 19 years old. The average age of those listed on the wall is 22.

o n shining black wall are the names of eight o cean City service men: Willie e . Granger (Panel 49W, Line 4), John C. martin (Panel 41e, Line 11), bruce m miley (Panel 40W, Line13), Jon r m orvay (Panel 28 e, Line 56), Charles W. Sterling (Panel 4W, Line 98), robert A. Woodrow (Panel 23 e, Line 8), William r . God frey (Panel 41e, Line 61), and George F. Long (Panel 63W, Line 18).

This photograph of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial shows the name of Bruce M. Miley. He was killed on October 21, 1968. He was 21 years old.

Asbury Avenue gets a new beginning

also feature clothing, jewelry accessories and much more.

Business Buzz

By Rich Baehrle

For years most of the retail activity on Asbury Avenue in o cean City was concentrat ed from 7th Street to 10th Street. However, the beginning of the Avenue has been reestablished as 6th Street.

Jon and Patty’s Coffee bar and bistro has long been a popular staple on the 600 block. Added to Jon and Patty’s recently have been Pedego electric bike rentals and Goji smooth ie store.

A brand-new building, located a 603 Asbury Ave., will be the new Asbury landmark. It is a spectacular design and will feature White Lotus boutique, Fabiana edwards Studio Salon and Spa, and Pete’s m ercantile.

White Lotus is a specialty bou tique focused on healing products for the mind, body and soul. They will

Two local sisters, Jamie Hannigan and Lisa Catrambone, col laborated their talents to start White Lotus 12 years ago with a small shop in Sea Isle City. Fast forward to 2022, this will be the sixth store the sisters have opened. Currently they have two stores.

They are excited to share their passion for spiritual gifts that help people heal from within. The unique, handcrafted items will cater to the individual, not the masses.

In addition to the specialty items, the sisters will feature classes and events such as crystal readings, tarot card readings, meditation and yoga. You can learn more about White Lotus at www.ShopWhitelotus.com. The opening is targeted for Nov. 19.

Fabiana edwards Studio Salon and Spa is not new to ocean City or Asbury Avenue. Fabiana Simoes has been located at 815 Asbury Ave. since 2014. Her tremendous success there has led to the new beautiful location

at 603 Asbury Ave.

She started her career in vineland in 1985. Fabiana has been a salon owner since 1991 and is a masters vidal Sassoon graduate. In addition, her salon has the prestigious desig nation of a Paul mitchel focus salon.

The new salon will be like no other featuring six custom cutting stations, a color bar, hair extension station, barbering area, aesthetic massage area, brow bar and eyelash extensions. They will also feature a bridal and prom makeup bar. You can learn more at www.fabianaedwards. com or call 609-391-9900. opening is set for Dec. 6.

Pete m ercantile is primarily an online women’s clothing store boutique. They are a mother/daugh ter owned business serving women all over the country for the last year and a half. With curated looks for all ages and styles, their goal is to help bring classic looks and time less fashion with flair from the South and other areas.

Their success online has made their journey to brick and mortar very intentional. They love the culture of o cean City and many of their clients reside there. They will bring it all together with a fun new location on Asbury.

remember to support your local merchants.

Rich Baehrle of Berkshire Hathaway Fox and Roach. Can be reached at 609226-6680 or 609-641-0011 richardbaehrle@gmail.com www.getrichinrealestateSJ.com

Plant amaryllis now for a stunning holiday show

t It Grow

By Tammy Thornton

After a week of tempera tures in the 70s, it’s hard to believe that it will soon be time for carving a tur key, lighting candles, and putting up a tree. b ut time doesn’t stand still. Soon you will want to deck the halls, and some of your decor will require a little pre-planning. If you have ever seen the stunning flowers of amaryllis blooming, you will want to make sure these beautiful flowers have been planted in time for the holidays.

Amaryllis flowers provide a stun ning and vibrant burst of color during the dark days of winter, just when we need it most. Coming in rich colors with red, candy cane stripes, pinks, or pure white, amaryllis will make a statement in any room you grow them. Fortunately, these bold, beau tiful flowers are super easy to grow. When it comes to purchasing an am

aryllis, you will find them available in a few ways: a single unplanted bulb, an amaryllis kit, or a planted bulb just at the peak of blooming. If you buy an amaryllis kit, you will probably receive a container, some type of growing medium, and the bulb ready for planting. If you are purchasing the bulbs by themselves and are able to examine them out of the container, be sure to choose large firm bulbs. Larger bulbs will mean larger flowers and, most like ly, more flowers on each stem. make sure the bulbs are firm, since bulbs that are soft or squishy will be a sign of rot.

If you purchase an amaryllis kit or single, bare-root bulbs, you will want to plant several weeks before you plan to enjoy the flowers. For blooms in December, you should consider starting the growing process now. Don’t be nervous, because they are one of the easiest, most rewarding houseplants you will grow. If your bulb did not come with a container, choose one that is only slightly larger than the bulb (allow about an inch or two space around the bulb). make sure it is also a fairly heavy pot or container, because once these large, tall flowers begin to bloom, they will

be top-heavy and a lightweight con tainer will fall over. making sure your container has drainage holes is a key factor, because amaryllis do not like to sit in water. Without proper drain age, the bulb will rot and die. Add an inch or two of potting soil or a soilless mix, and plant the bulb, leaving about a third of the bulb above the soil. Wa ter well, but make sure the water fully drains from the container afterwards. Place in a sunny area and you will soon see the stem shooting up, with a large flower bud on top. Though the sun will help your amaryllis bloom, keep it out of direct sunlight and make sure the location in your house isn’t too hot so that the blooms last longer. eventually, you will see 2 - 4 blooms per stem. You may get lucky

and see a second stem following the first. This stem will produce a second flush of flowers as the first group fades.

For the procrastinator, purchase amaryllis bulbs that have already been planted with the large bud showing. These make great gifts and will bloom fairly quickly after the initial watering. These plants have been groomed by the growers to bloom soon after purchasing. Water the plant well and within a week, you should see the flower stem and bud begin shooting up. At this point, your only job is to sit back and be amazed at your beautiful flower. each day, the amaryllis will seem to grow and change. Do not water again until the top two inches of the soil have dried out. If the plant leans in a certain direction towards the sun, you should turn it so it grows evenly. Topheavy plants may need a support for the stems, tied loosely with twine or decorative ribbon. o ne word of cau tion: keep your amaryllis away from pets, since the ASPCA lists them as toxic to dogs and cats.

Though many people treat ama ryllis like annuals and throw them out after the holidays, you can save your plant to rebloom the following year.

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Some amaryllis have been known to last for decades. To care for your am aryllis after it has finished blooming, cut the spent flowers off so they do not start forming seeds, as this will take away from the energy of the bulb. At this point, the amaryllis plant may start forming leaves that were not present during the blooming process. Do not cut off the leaves or stems, since they will be the means to give energy back to the bulb for the next time it blooms. Place the plant in a sunny area. o nce the stem starts to yellow and die, then you should cut it off, since its work is done. At this point, treat the amaryllis as a houseplant, watering it sparingly. You should keep the leaves on the plant, but cut off any that yellow and wilt. When all threat of frost is over in the spring, you can give your amaryllis a vacation in the garden. Take the pot and plant outside and allow it to bask in a partially sunny area. This will give it the extra boost to bloom the next season. You should also

fertilize monthly. You can leave it out all summer, but keep it out of harsh afternoon sunlight.

In mid-September or mid- october, bring your amaryllis plant indoors. You will then cut off any remaining leaves and stem, remove the bulb from the soil, and keep it in a dry, dark area (like a basement or garage). Do not water. This process will send the bulb into dormancy, allowing you to “force” the amaryllis to bloom again for the holidays. b egin this process about 10 - 14 weeks before you want your amaryllis to bloom. They need to rest or stay dormant for about 6 - 8 weeks. Count back about 4 - 6 weeks from your goal bloom-time. This is when you want to start the planting process all over again. Plant the bulbs, water, fertilize, and bring them into a sunny location. Flowers should begin to develop in 4 - 6 weeks, although some bulbs may show signs of life sooner.

once you see the beauty of an am aryllis and see how easy it is to grow,

you will be smitten. b uy yourself some extras for after the holidays to brighten up the winter blues in January and February. Plant several a few weeks apart for continuous blooms or plant them all together for an elegant and dramatic display.

We would love to hear from our readers. Have you tried to grow am aryllis flowers? Send us your pictures, comments, and questions, to shore localgardener@gmail.com.

Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.

Gnocchi are little pillows of heaven

from the word nocca, which means knuckles, or the Lombard word kno hha, which means knot – like a knot of wood. Gnocchi have been a tradition al type of Italian pasta since roman times and were originally made from semolina flour mixed with eggs.

feed prisoners of war and sustenance for the starving.

By Chef Joseph Massaglia

Those of you who listen to my radio show know that I always bring my home made potato gnocchi, topped with my famous mama Sauce, to the studio to serve to my guests. made properly, these little, light, airy dumplings, usually made with pota toes, are “little pillows of heaven.”

It’s believed gnocchi originated in Northern Italy (my native region) and the name is thought to have come

In the early 1500s, gnocchi were made with bread, milk and ground almonds and called zanzarelli. Later, a mixture of eggs, flour and water were added to the zanzarelli and the dough was pushed through a cheese grater and called “malfatti” (meaning badly made).

Although Spanish explorers brought potatoes back to Italy from South America in the 16th century, it took until the 18th century for potato gnocchi recipes to appear because for those two centuries Italians were suspicious and fearful of potatoes. In fact, during that time, potatoes were only used as animal fodder, to

Depending on the region of Italy gnocchi are made with a vari ety of base ingredients including pumpkin, semolina flour, chestnut flour, ricotta and corn meal. Some recipes even include sour cream. Not only does each region have its own gnocchi recipe, they each have their own specific sauce.

In the Piedmontese, my home region, we toss gnocchi in a simple sauce of butter, sage and Parmesan. In verona they prefer a fresh tomato sauce, and in Sorrento they love their gnocchi “alla sorrentina” – potato gnocchi baked with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil.

During the summer my favorite way to eat gnocchi is with a classic basil (or even sun-dried tomato) pes to. However, with the colder weather upon us I like to serve my potato gn occhi with my original mama Sauce.

I’ve included my potato gnocchi and m ama Sauce recipes here, but gnocchi also are delicious served

with browned butter, sage and chives; Napolitano sauce (crushed tomatoes, garlic, crushed red pepper and olive oil); or bava sauce (a light white sauce made with cream, butter, sage, fontina and Parmesan to which broccoli florets are added.) Gnocchi bava, which is from my home in valle D’Aosta, has been on m ama m ia’s menu since the first day I opened. buon Appetito!

Chef Joe Massaglia’s Original Recipe for Mama Mia’s Potato Gnocchi with Mama Sauce

● 4 large russet (not Yukon Gold) potatoes, unpeeled

Potato Gnocchi

● 2 tablespoons butter

● 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

● Salt and pepper to taste

● 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk

● 1 to 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Line a baking sheet with parch ment or waxed paper and dust with flour; set aside.

Pierce potatoes in several places with a fork; microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until soft. (o r bake in a 375° oven until tender.) Cool slightly; remove skins while potatoes are still hot.

Immediately put the potatoes through a ricer into a large bowl. m ix in the butter, nutmeg, salt and pepper until combined; add eggs and egg yolk and combine with a spatula. mix in 1-1/4 cups flour until a soft, not sticky, dough is formed. (Depending on the starch content of the potatoes you may need to add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until you get the proper consistency.)

Put dough on a floured surface; gently roll into a circle 3/4-inch thick. (Important: b efore making all the gnocchi, cut two or three 1/2-inch pieces from the circle, shape and test in boiling water to make sure they don’t fall apart. If they do you will need to add more flour to the dough before cutting.)

Cut dough into 1-inch ropes, then cut each rope into 1/2-inch pieces. Shape gnocchi by pressing onto the tines of a floured fork or gnocchi pad dle. Using light to medium pressure, roll the gnocchi on the fork or paddle to create a ridged surface. Place rolled gnocchi on prepared baking sheet.

bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Using a slotted spoon or spider add half the gnocchi to the water; return to a boil and cook, gently stirring occasionally, un til they float to the surface. Continue cooking 1 to 2 minutes, until done. repeat with remaining gnocchi.

If using immediately, add cooked gnocchi to your prepared sauce and serve with additional grated Parme san cheese.

Note:

*Cooked gnocchi can be cooled completely on lightly oiled parch ment-covered baking sheet, covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

*Uncooked gnocchi can be frozen on the prepared baking sheet, trans ferred to a resealable plastic bag and frozen up to 1 month. Thaw about an hour before cooking in boiling water so they don’t become gummy.

Chef Joe Massaglia’s Original Mama Sauce

● 1 medium onion, chopped and caramelized*

● 3 tablespoons (3 ounces) butter

● 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

● 1 teaspoon dried sage

● 1/4 cup chopped scallions, white parts only

● 2 to 3 garlic cloves, chopped

● Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

● 1 teaspoon salt

● 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

● 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

● 6 ounces sweet masala wine

● o ne 28-ounce can crushed toma toes

● 1 cup heavy cream

● 1 cup (about 5 ounces) frozen peas, thawed

● 4 to 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish

● Additional basil, parsley and Par mesan cheese for garnish

* b efore starting to make mama Sauce, caramelize chopped onions by sauteing in butter until soft, translu cent and lightly browned.

m elt butter and extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sage, scallions, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt; cook, stirring occa sionally, until slightly softened. Add caramelized onions, basil and parsley and bring to a sizzle over medium heat.

remove from heat; add marsala wine. return to heat; reduce mixture by one-third, stirring occasionally. Add heavy cream; reduce mixture by

half, stirring occasionally.

Add crushed tomatoes and peas; bring to a simmer, stirring occasion ally. Simmer about 10 minutes, stir ring occasionally, to develop flavor. reduce heat to low; stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Gently fold cooked gnocchi into the sauce to warm. Serve sprinkled with additional basil, parsley and grated cheese.

Joe's Table for Two radio show airs Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wo ND 1400 Am . Website: joestablefortwo.com. Facebook: Joe's Table for 2. Contact Joe: joestablefortwo@gmail.com.

It's Soup Time

● 2 teaspoons of crushed red pep per

● 1/2 of a large diced white onion

● 2 slices of turkey bacon, cut into pieces

● 3 chopped or pressed cloves of garlic

Nu trition

By Nancy Adler

It's soup time of year! Fall is a time of comfort with plenty of opportunities for wonderful meals with family. The health benefits of soup are many. Since soups are mostly liquid, they are a great way to stay hydrated and full. They give your immune system a boost. Soups help to stave off colds and flu. m ost soups are loaded with disease-fighting nutrients. They are a great antidote for times when you are feeling under the weath er.

Start your meal with soup to warm your stomach. Soup preserves the nutritional val ue of the vegetables. Soup helps you to feel full, so you don’t overeat at that meal.

Try to enjoy cream-based soups every once in a while. Stick with soups that include winter crops such as pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots and parsnips. You can even drop frozen veggies in the soup to add bulk and flavor. Think about making extra servings to freeze and have on a cold winter evening.

You may find this recipe and more in my cookbook, “Nancy’s recipe for Life,” available in my Linwood office and Capellas o il and vinegar Store in o cean City.

Homemade Zuppa Toscana Soup

Ingredients:

● 1 pound of ground Italian sausage

● 6 cups of water

● 2 cubes of low-sodium chicken bouillon

● 2 pounds of cubed russet pota toes or about 6 large potatoes

● 3 cups of low-fat milk

● 1/2 bunch of kale

Directions:

● brown the sausage in a large pot with the crushed red pepper.

● o nce it’s brown, transfer it to a bowl and refrigerate, leaving the drippings in the bottom of the pot.

● Add the bacon to the pot and cook it just to done.

● Add the onion and garlic and cook until tender (do not let it caramel ize them).

● Add the water and bouillon cubes and bring to a boil.

● Add the potatoes and cook until soft, about 20 to 25 minutes.

● Stir in the milk and bring it back up to a gentle boil.

● Tear the kale into bite-size pieces, omitting the large stems.

● Gently boil until the kale is tender

● Season to taste.

This recipe serves 9.

Nancy Adler is a certified nutritionist and practitioner in Linwood. Her office is located in Cornerstone Commerce Center, 1201 New Rd. Learn about her practice at ww.nancyadlernutri tion.com (609)653-4900. Nancy is the Recipient of the Best of The Press 2020, 2021, and 2022 Gold Award. You may listen to Nancy every Saturday at 11 am Nancy Ad ler Nutrition LIVE! NewsTalk 1400 WOND and 92.3 the station is fm

Shore Local 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and all the big box brands are ready to snag your attention and hard-earned money. It’s all too easy to scroll through Amazon or browse Target for cliche gifts, but this year, your family and friends deserve more. Christmas, Hannukkeh and other spe cial days are excellent opportunities to support small businesses in your community. Shopping small benefits your neighbor, not some far-away Ceo. You ensure a bright future for your hometown because you spend where it counts. Where do you even start?! I’ve got you covered. Here are 20 local gift ideas your tribe will cherish forever:

The Cape May bracelet, Raising Surfers

https://www.raisingsurfers.com/ product-page/the-marco-1 raising Surfers is a family-owned company from Sea Isle that supports surfing and swimming lessons with a portion of their earnings. Their beau tiful jewelry and merchandise are based upon community connections and local hangouts. The stunning

bracelet listed above includes a gold chain and delicate seashell to remind your recipient of their local ties.

Custom Cookies, McHale’s Munchies https://www.instagram.com/ mchales_munchies/?hl=en This gift is perfect for some one with a sweet tooth. Person alize beautifully-crafted cookies from a m ays Landing teacher and serve up some sugar to your friend or boss. Portions of purchases benefit research for cystic fibrosis, too.

Sea Salt Soap, Cape May Soap Company https://www.capemaysoap company.com/collections/hand made-soap/products/sea-salt-soap everyone loves specialty soap! Your recipient will feel like they are bathing in the ocean (in a good way). The Cape may Soap Company offers lots of options of soap, candles and homeware, which could make for great stocking stuffers.

Lucy the Elephant Paint by Number Kit, J Caplan Art https://www.jcaplanart.com/ store/p30/LucyTheelephant.html#/ Jordan Caplan, an art teacher

working

Wool Yarn, Misty Meadow Sheep Dairy Farm https://www.mistymeadowtick ets.com/about/

Whether you are a knitter looking to create scarves or giving to some one creative, this yarn is warm and soft and straight from local sheep. Show your support for local farm ers and purchase your gifts at misty m eadow of Upper Township. Glass Art, Blue Bottle Art https://www.instagram.com/p/ Cj7vp owgZr5/?hl=en

m aggie Senatore of Wildwood hand-crafts beautiful art made from tumbled sea glass. With clever sayings and car toons, these cute pieces will tie a whole room together and make for a great conversation-start er.

Class Pass, Grace and Glory Yoga http://www.graceand gloryyoga.com/ maybe your daughter-in-law loves fitness, or your cousin is constantly posting inspirational quotes on social media. Send them to Grace and Glo ry, which has locations in Galloway, Northfield and Atlantic City, and offer a variety of classes.

Beach Cruiser, Beach Bike Warehouse https://www.beachbikeware house.com/

With this gift, you give connection with nature, transportation and fit ness all in one! They’ll love riding up and down the b oardwalk, roaming the bike paths, and exploring the eHT Nature reserve. ↘

in the Atlantic City School District, handmakes stunning paintby-number kits based on local land marks. Art enthusiasts will have a great time filling in the colors and creating a masterpiece.

Shoreline Tour, Steel Pier Helicopters

https://steelpierhelicopters.com/ product/helicopter-tour/

Calling all thrillseekers! Steel Pier offers helicopter rides around Ab secon Island, including breathtaking views and incredible photo opportu nities. book your experience online today.

Mermaid, Unicorn or Fairy Makeover, Bowfish Studios https://bowfishstudios.com/ makeovers

Little divas can make their dreams reality through a special, kid-friendly makeover, complete with braiding, makeup, and a themed accessory. m ake sure to take pictures of the before and after!

Jump Session (or Gift Card), Get Air Trampoline Park https://getairsports.com/ mays-landing/ Kids of all ages will love soaring through the air as they bounce on massive trampolines. They can play dodgeball, dunk a basketball, or dive into a foam pit. How fun is that?!

Wildwood Haze Craft Beer, MudHen Brewing Company https://mudhenbrew.com/distri bution/

You can’t go wrong gifting craft beer, especially if it's local. This New

england IPA has notes of tropical fruit and lots of hops. best of all, the design on each can is an artsy wave.

Two-Toed Sloth Encounter, Cape May County Zoo

https://www.capemaycountynj. gov/1158/Animal- encounters-Guid ed-Tours

Is the sloth your sister’s spirit animal? Does your son sleep too much? An interaction with nature’s laziest animal will be the highlight of their year. Cape may County Zoo just received its newest baby, a 6-monthold sloth named matilda, and you can’t pass up an opportunity to meet her!

Book of Tickets, Playland’s Castaway Cove https://oceancityfun.com/ Kids and kids-at-heart will love

this gift! o cean City’s premier amusement pier offers state-ofthe-art coasters, family rides and fun galore. Although the park is closed for the off-season, you’ll make great memories once the weather warms up.

Head Over Heels Package, En chanted Day Spa https://enchant edcenterspa.com/couples-services

I’m sure you know a couple who need a little relaxation. Send them to the enchanted Day Spa in ventnor for full-body massage, skin treatments, and even foot massages! The gift of self-care is necessary and wonderful.

Four-Hour Fishing Charter, Shore Thing Charters OCNJ

https://www.shorethingoceancity. com/trips-rates/

The fisherman or woman in your life needs this gift. With this experi ence, you are offering an adventure, connection with other like-minded anglers, and a memory they’ll never forget. So many dads would love this!

Surfing the Garden State, Bogy Art

https://www.bogyart.com/prod uct-page/surfing-the-garden-state b ogy is one of the most iconic artists of South Jersey, specializing in folk surf art. This print represents the state of New Jersey and its vari ety between regions. Frame this and hang it in your office, dorm room, or home arcade for a cool vibe.

Pirate Tour, Pirate Adventures https://www.piratevoyages.com/ pricing-policies/

Families will never forget their voyage on o cean City’s pirate ship. Children will participate in an exciting live-action story where they battle other pirates and find treasure. book

an experience for Pirate Adventures 2023 season.

Artisan Dog Treats, Paw Dazzle Pet Boutique https://www.historicsmithville. com/smithville-stores/paw-dazzle/ Your four-legged friend will go nuts over these delicious treats. Dogs are members of the family and worthy of Christmas/Hanukkah gifts, just like everyone else. Why not spoil them..?!

Season Passes, Storybook Land https://storybookland.com/. Families can enjoy this local theme park during the holiday season! Kiddie rides, storybook encounters, and de licious food make this park worth vis iting again and again. Grandparents, this gift would be perfect from you!

Cinnamon Swirl Candle, Lil Lights Candle Co. https://lillightscandleco.com/ mays Landing mom rayelle Han sen handmakes these organic, soybased candles in partnership with her three-year-old daughter Nova. The candles smell fantastic, and make for the perfect gift for anyone in your life.

dining | seafood bar | sand bar |

deauvilleinn.com 201 willard road, strathmere, nj 08248 | 609.263.2080

Margate’s Mega Shopping Weekend to promote small business

The m argate business and restaurant districts will be celebrating Shop Small busi ness weekend beginning Fri day, November 25 through to Sunday, November 27 by offering great sales, discounts, contests for shoppers and a drive through town by America Sign Language (ASL) Santa.

Santa will leave from the margate Fire Station on Washington Avenue at noon on Saturday, November 26, travel up Cedar Grove to Atlantic Ave nue down to Coolidge Avenue and will then be escorted down the length of ventnor Avenue by the margate City Fire Department and the margate City Police Department to bocca Coal Fired bistro, essex Ave.

Heading up the event is miss New Jersey 2022 Augustina mallous, Les lie’s Dance Studio dancers, Playgroups Plus students, Atlantic County Utilities Authority CNG pickup truck with Su percan, Atlantic City Division, US Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Lucy the elephant (the inflatable version) the 95.1 WAY v / 100.7 WZXL van will be playing all of

your favorite holiday tunes. Santa, his elves, a unicorn, b uzz Lightyear and the minion will also be available for pic tures and visits both outside of bocca and then inside the restaurant where children can enjoy a complimentary slice of pizza and beverage along with a wrapped Wawa cookie and craft kit. USADJ Karaoke will be offering Holiday Songs Karaoke, 95.1 WAY v will have DJ for a day and pianist Shawn Quigley will be performing on his red piano inside bocca. margate mothers Association will be offering a free hol iday craft where children can fill their own holiday ornaments.

Children can drop off their letters to Santa at his slotted mailbox in the foyer of bocca from Saturday, Novem ber 25 to December 4 at 6pm

A series of contests will be held including receipts are all the rage where a lucky winner will receive a m argate gift card and Your Favorite business Photo Contest. See contest details below.

o n Saturday, a scavenger hunt for coupons hidden in small holiday boxes will be placed throughout the business districts, nothing will be hidden inside a business. Sustainable margate will be distributing reusable bags on Sat urday at bocca and participants can spin a wheel or play the quiz game to win prizes. (bags are limited.) New Jersey Fairy Hair will be on hand at bocca ready to adorn your hair with sparkly strand extensions. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Atlantic County Toys for Kids Program.

Guests are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to the program.

visit the annually decorated m ar gate recreation fields on Jerome Ave nue. This year features NeW lights and attractions and will begin Thanksgiving eve, Wednesday, November 23. The lights will go on daily at dusk. be sure to bring your camera!

Customers can take a photo of their receipt from any margate busi ness purchase from any margate busi ness purchase made between Friday, November 25 and Sunday, November 27, and send the receipt photo to info@margatehasmore.com. There will be one randomly selected winner of a gift certificate from the store of purchase. Winners will be notified via email.

For additional information on these events and much more go to www. margatehasmore.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Who the hell is Billy Strings? And why you should go see him

By Scott Cronick

About a month or so ago, I got a text from one of the bands I book regularly at Atlantic City’s Tennessee Avenue b eer Hall in Atlantic City, which I co-own, about someone called billy Strings.

“Hey man, where is b illy Strings playing in Atlantic City?”

“Who the hell is billy Strings?” was my response.

“Go check him out,” he said. “He’s like biggest thing right now. Get this, he’s a bluegrass musician selling out everywhere he goes across the coun try and around the world. It’s pretty wild.”

So, as advised, I checked out billy Strings, and man, was I blown away.

A couple of weeks ago, it was announced Strings would play not one, not two, but three nights at Hard rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s Live at mark G. etess Arena Thursday, Feb. 16, through Saturday, Feb. 18.

Yes, this 30-year-old guitar god is capable of selling out three shows in

the winter at Hard rock, including a Thursday show … unheard of for even big headliners who come to Atlantic City.

So, who the hell is b illy Strings? Well, he’s a Grammy Award-winning bluegrass star whose three official albums and various collaborations

have single-handedly made bluegrass popular for the first time since … well, has bluegrass ever been popular like this?

The Lansing, m ich., native has seemingly overcome a tough upbring ing. His father died of a heroin over dose when he was 2 years old –he

learned bluegrass from his “father” Terry barber, who could only dream of the success his son has accom plished - and his parents became ad dicted to methamphetamines when he was a pre-teen, leading Strings to leave his family at 13 and then falling into hard drug use himself.

Now sober, Strings has become part bill monroe, part bela Fleck, part Jimmy Page and part Jerry Garcia and has become the talk of the music world. In a few short years, Strings re leased singles with bluegrass legend Del m cCoury and country star Luke Combs, was named one of the Top 10 New Country Artists to Know in 2017, won the International bluegrass music Association’s 2016 m omentum Award for Instrumentalist of the Year and entertainer of the year for the past two years, has been praised and shared stages with folks like Dierks b entley, the Grateful Dead’s b ob Weir, The String Cheese Inci dent, Widespread Panic and Phish frontman Trey Anastasio, who helped bring Phish fans into the billy Strings

camp who became aware of Strings’ long jams and even longer setlists. Like Phish, Strings routinely breaks his concerts into two long sets with an intermission and can easily play over three hours.

Strings, whose band is as impres sive as he is, may be known for his covers as much as his own stuff, which has propelled him into another level as his band’s long jams have evolved into covers of Led Zeppelin, b lack Sabbath - which his father taught him – the rolling Stones, Post m alone, Pink Floyd, Phish, bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, The monkees, the Allman broth ers, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jimi

Hendrix, Tom Petty and even Cher. He has literally covered hundreds of different artists and seems to be a musical encyclopedia, so every night is a different experience.

When he hits Hard rock, he will be touring behind “ m e/And/Dad,” his latest project with his father that is a collection of traditional, country and bluegrass music from Hank Thomp son, A.P. Carter, George Jones and others.

So, here is why you should see billy Strings now!

b ecause after this winter tour, Strings will become an arena artist, meaning the next time he comes to Atlantic City, it will likely be in board

walk Hall or on the beach … he’s that big and growing, which is insanity for a bluegrass artist.

To see him in a semi-intimate ven ue like the 5,000-seat Hard rock Live is about as good as you’re going to do for years going forward, or may be ever. His upcoming shows at The m et in Philly, as well as other shows in Washington, D.C., rochester and Uniondale, N.Y., are sold out.

even if you don’t like bluegrass, he’s the kind of once-in-a-generation musician who can change your mind. He changed mine.

b illy Strings performs 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, through Saturday, Feb. 18, at Hard rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s Live at mark G. etess Arena. Tickets start at $49.50. Go to Ticketmaster. com

What’s Cooking

Here are some things to look out for on the South Jersey Dining scene that I will likely elaborate more on in the near future:

● both nobu, the acclaimed Japanese concept, and Gordon r amsay’s Hell’s Kitchen have really trans formed Caesars Atlantic City into a world-class des tination. both are stunning venues with amazing food. ramsay made a surprise appearance last week at a private party, and he said he feels more comfortable in Atlantic City than any other city because of the team’s work ethic. Caesars.com

● The Casino Café & Grille took the place of Water Dog at bally’s At lantic City. open for breakfast and lunch daily, word on the street is the pumpkin pancakes and lobster omelette are ridiculously good. ballysAC.com

● Sunday Gravy,

Square. The buzz is good, and I believe it features the cuisine of a former chef at b orgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Call 609-365-8260.

● o ne of my favorite breakfast places in South Jersey- No res ervations in Galloway Township – recently started dinner service Fridays to Sundays. The small, but fun menu, features items like creamy burrata with bruschetta,

garlic confit, prosciutto and bal samic; fresh fried chicken tails with spicy Jamaican jerk sauce, grilled lime pineapple salsa and pickled onion; an 8-ounce filet with mushroom gravy; citrus salm on; chicken parm; crab cakes; and a vegan platter with basmati rice, potato vegetable hash and grilled vegan sausage with pesto sauce. They are located in the former

a new Italian con cept, opened in the former Casal di’s location at Linwood’s Central

Photos by Tom Briglia/PhotoGraphics

Shea’s location at 626 S. New York road.

● Shore Diner in egg Harbor Town ship proudly welcomed “celebrity chef” m anny Agigian as pastry chef. The finalist on TLC’s “Next Great baker” with The Cake boss and the Food Network’s “Save my bakery,” will be crafting the diner’s awesome fresh-baked goods and even expand what they currently offer. The diner offers cakes, pies and more to take home. Call 609641-3669 to order. ShoreDiner. com

● And, finally, m ochi r ing Donut opened in Linwood’s The e x change. The chain is cashing in on

the nation’s current mo chi donut fad. The Ko rean creation features Korean rice cake (mochi) with more traditional American donut ingre dients to make some thing unique. Flavors include black sesame, brown sugar milk tea, o reo, Fruity Pebbles or simple glazed and cinna mon options. They don’t come cheap: A dozen is in excess of $30. mochi ring Donut is open ev ery day except Sunday. Call 609-464-3083.

Scott Cronick is an awardwinning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – "Off The Press with Scott Cronick" - 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also coowns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.

NoreservationsNJ.com

Photo by Tom Briglia/ PhotoGraphics

Astros end Phillies’ magical run

prediction at least was in the ballpark, unlike the monster 3-run homer Houston's Yor dan Alvarez blasted against Phils reliever Jose Alvarado in Game 6 to give the Astros a Series-clinching, 4-1 victory.

By David Weinberg

On the eve of the World Series, I appeared on several local radio shows and boldly predicted an Astros sweep over the Phillies.

The pick didn't age very well. In fact, it lasted just one game, when J.T. realmuto smacked a 10th-inning home run to the give the Phils a vic tory in the opener.

That prompted a variety of re sponses from friends, family mem bers, and social media followers. The group of critics included my wife of 40 years.

Karen fell asleep around the sev enth inning. The next morning, she asked what happened in Game 1?

"The Phillies in 10," I said. " realmu to hit a home run."

"Sweep, huh?" was her reply. but although I was a little off, my

The Astros were clearly the better team and it ulti mately showed. Although that shouldn't detract from what was a magical postseason for the "Fightins."

After barely squeaking into the playoffs as the third wildcard, they embarked on a thrilling, improbable run that ignited a spark among Philly sports fans. Although Philadelphia is, and might always remain, an eagles town, the Phillies made baseball exciting again.

Citizens bank Park was rocking during home games. Fans provided deafening cheers while waving flags that turned the stands into a sea of red.

The highlight came in Game 3 of the Series, when the Phils tied a re cord set by the 2017 Astros by hitting five home runs - one apiece by bryce Harper, Alec bohm, b randon marsh, Kyle Schwarber and rhys Hoskins - in a 7-1 victory.

The lowlight came a day later, when Astros starter Cristian Javier and three relievers combined to hurl the first World Series no-hitter since the Yankees' Don Larsen threw a perfect game against the b rooklyn Dodgers in 1956.

Aside from that outburst, howev er, the Phillies' offense was impotent. The Phils batted a woeful .159 in the Series - the lowest average ever for a World Series that went at least six games - and struck out a record 71 times. They hit .092 from the middle of Game 3 through the end.

In the last three games, Hoskins (No. 2 hitter), J.T. realmuto (No. 3)

and Nick Castellanos (No. 5) were a combined 1-for-36 with 22 strikeouts.

m ost of the heat has been directed toward Hoskins, who languished at the plate and in the field at first base, but others, including manager rob Thomson, should share in the blame. Thomson deserves a kudos for guiding the team since replacing Joe Girar di, but he also made a few mistakes. The biggest was in Game 6, when he pulled starter Zack Wheeler after just 70 pitches. Alvardo replaced him a served up a 450-foot homer to Al varez that traveled farther than some of nearby NASA's Space Launches.

It will be interesting to see how the Phillies address the offseason. A number of talented shortstops - Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Xander bo gaerts among them - will be available. That could mean a switch to second base for bryson Stott and a departure for Jean Segura. There will also be pressure to upgrade at first base, given Hoskins' struggles.

but those issues are for the future. right now, Phillies fans can take some solace in that their favorite team de

livered a slew of thrills that made for a bright red october.

It's looking like the next few months will be Green.

The eagles succeeded in Houston where the Phils could not, notching a 29-12 victory over the Texans Thurs day that pushed their record to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history and left them atop the NFL standings.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts, tight end Dallas Goedert defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson all contributed to the win with big plays. Hurts com pleted 21 of 27 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns; Goedert caught eight passes for 100 yards and a TD; Hargrave had three sacks and Gard ner-Johnson record his league-best fifth interception.

The start has prompted specula tion as to when the birds will suffer their first loss. They're in position to extend the streak into double digits, given their next three opponentsWashington (4-5), Indianapolis (3-5-1) and Green bay (3-6) - currently have losing records.

I'll predict the first defeat will come against the New York Giants (6-2) at m etLife Stadium on Dec. 11.

b ut given my record on predic tions, it's far from a lock.

Atlantic City boxing will continue its impressive 2022 run on Saturday, when millville-based rising Star Pro motions will hold its third card of the year in town.

In the main event, Atlantic City super-middleweight DeCarlo Perez (19-6-1, 6 Ko s) will oppose New York's Frederic Julan (12-1, 10 Ko s) in an eight-rounder. Perez will be fighting for the third time in the last 14 months after a three-year layoff.

Two other local boxers will be on the card. Popular Atlantic City mid dleweight Justin Figueroa (1-0, 1 Ko), a Holy Spirit High School graduate, will take on Philadelphia's Jeremiah Kendrick (1-2, 1 Ko) in a four-rounder. m ays Landing super-middleweight Isiah Hart (6-3-1, 4 Kos) will fight Phil adelphia Dewayne Williams (3-5-1, 3 Kos) in a four-rounder.

David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. He can also be heard on 97.3 ESPN as part of Weinberg Wednesday's with Josh Hennig and on Newstalk 1400 and 92.3 WOND on Monday's and Thursday's as part of Off the Press with Scott Cronick.

David who is a member of the Atlantic City Boxing, New Jersey Boxing, and New Jersey MMA Halls of Fame, is a Cape May native who spends his spare time on the golf course, riding his SUP in the Cape May Harbor, sitting on the beach with his wife, Karen, and playing with his three grandsons Hampton (6), Graham (4) and Nixon (1). Send comments to weinbergd419@ comcast.net.

Justin Figueroa

Mays Landing mom starts candle company for her daughter

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Aromas are one of the most powerful connections peo ple have with emotion and memory. From Grandma’s cookies to the first snow to gather ing around a campfire, our greatest moments are often remembered by their scents.

In 2019, rayelle Hansen had an epiphany that changed her and her daughter Nova’s lives. The young mom was spending long hours at Shore m edical Center as a patient administrator, missing her little girl and feeling ready for a change. She longed for a career that would allow her to spend more time with Nova.

To unwind, Hansen and a friend decided to make their own candles one Friday night. When they lit the wick, black smoke exploded out of the wax. “This can’t be healthy,” Hansen remembers thinking. “I spent hours and hours over the next few weeks researching candles and ingre dients and potential dangers for our health. I experimented by making my

own candles with locally-sourced and organic supplies.”

When her mom brought a handful of her daughter’s candles to a yoga class, Hansen’s crafting social media accounts went viral. In response, the young mom officially started her company Lil’ Lights Candle Co.

Today, Hansen spends every day with her three-year-old by her side, pouring wax, mixing oils and adding wicks. They pack online orders and restock at retail locations across South Jersey. every couple of weeks, the mother-daughter duo takes a road trip four hours away to Penn sylvania for supplies.

“Nova loves working with me and having her little jobs,” said Hansen. “She packs styrofoam peanuts in the packages and smells every candle, sometimes even screwing on each jar lid,” said the proud mom. “I love teaching her about hard work and starting a business. I feel so connect ed to her.”

In addition to creating candles, Lil’ Lights Candle Co. co-hosts can dle-making workshops at nearby community hubs. o ver this past summer, Hansen taught teenage girls how to make candles alongside Island Therapy of Somers Point, and did a workshop at Jessie’s of Linwood (and plans to do another for the holiday season).

m uch like her per sonality, Hansen’s prod ucts are simple, mini mal and family-friendly. She uses cotton wicks, soy wax, and no addi tives such as paraffin in her candles. She is slowly releasing skincare and bath products in addition to new candle scents for the holiday season. e xpect to browse Han sel & Gretel, Cinnamon Swirl, and Apple maple bourbon scents as the holidays draw closer.

Hansen also uses 100% recycled glass jars for her candles, and when a customer returns a jar, she offers to refill the jar with a new candle at a discounted rate. “Sustain ability and local sourcing really matter to me,” she said.

When asked for her advice to small business owners (or those hoping to start one), Hansen advises to look to the community for support and to never be afraid to ask for help. “At the beginning, no matter how scared

I was, I just kept saying yes to every opportunity,” said Hansen. “Always be authentic, because the real you is beautiful. Like a candle, you don’t want to burn out too quickly, so re member what matters to you.”

Lil’ Lights Candles are available at a variety of retail locations, in cluding Zen Landing Yoga Studio in m ays Landing, At Anchor Day Spa in Northfield, Lillian James Salon in Turnersville, and Grasso Girls Farm market in West Deptford. Check out Hansen’s company at: https://lillights candleco.com/. Also, be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook for an up-to-date list of workshops.

Rayelle Hansen and her daughter Nova

By Donald B Kravitz

ary J.

an boardwalk Hall. It was an exciting, action-filled show which had the audi ence dancing the entire night as blige danced and sang her way from side to side on the stage in front of a dazzling background with pyrotechnics.

Known as the Queen of Hip Hop and Soul, mary J. blige is an award-winning singer-songwriter and actress. She has won nine Grammy awards, four Amer ican music awards, a primetime emmy, twelve b illboard m usic awards, and twelve NAACP Image awards.

b lige is known for her songs in cluding ' my Life,' 'No m ore Drama,' everything' and 'Good m orning Gor geous.' Her smooth, buttery voice has been featured in several films and shows, and she performed at the Super bowl Halftime Show twice, including earlier this year.

blige performed in concert Saturday,

29th to a sold-out audience at Jim Whel

Donald B. Kravitz is an Entertainment & Special Events photographer for national publications including Getty Images & Miss America

Photos by Donald B. Kravitz

All that glitters isn't gold

So why the strong feelings about gold?

Weren’t we always told it was a good investment?

By Eric Reich

Ireally try not to take sides when it comes to investments. I almost never deal in absolutes such as “this is a good investment” or “this is a bad investment”. What can be a great investment for one person might be totally inappropriate for an other. I cringe when I hear “experts” talk about hating any type of invest ment. o ne of the few things I have strong feelings towards however is gold. I really dislike gold as an invest ment. I don’t even categorize it as an investment, but rather as a trade.

The gold standard was officially removed in 1971, though it technically ended in 1933. It was created to force people to accept payments in dollars instead of gold. The problem with gold is that unlike traditional investments, gold is purely price dependent. Traditional investments by comparison can pay dividends, capital gains, interest, split shares, etc. Gold, however, has none of those attributes. While gold can be a suitable trade from time to time, it does not necessarily continue to rise in value over time like stock markets for example. Gold ended at

the same price in 1971 that it was in 1920. Today, gold is around the same price it was in 2012. During either of those time periods, if you bought gold but didn’t sell it, you have the same amount of money as you did when you started. The stock market by comparison would have returns a large multiple over either of those time periods. Yes, gold is higher today than it was in 1920, but the inflation adjusted value since 1968 is only 3.34% and since 1915 gold has risen around 9500% through last year vs. the stock market’s return of almost 65,000%.

The fact that I can’t make money in physical gold unless the price goes up is why I don’t like gold as an invest ment. So, when is gold appropriate? Times like now, where inflation is running high or when markets are expected to fall, gold becomes ore appealing. The problem is that the Federal reserve actively manages inflation, and markets are up 78% of the time. So, while gold may have its shining moments (pun intended), it

rarely makes sense to own other than as a very small part of a well-di versified portfolio. This is particularly true in coun tries with stable curren cies like ours. Countries like venezuela, or other highly unstable countries would find gold more ap pealing due to its relative price stability vs. their own highly unstable cur rency. Clearly, we don’t have to worry about that here in the U.S. at least not any time soon.

Another issue with gold is the need to store it physically and insure it. Those issues add to the costs which further erode your returns. I’m not saying gold isn’t appropriate in certain situations and for certain people, but let’s face it, you can’t eat gold. If everything collapses, gold won’t do you any good unless you can eat it or build shelter with it, so don’t think it will be of any great value if the world starts to fall apart. It won’t by the way, but I often hear people say that’s why they own it. The world isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the stock market. Therefore, owning gold for that reason is foolish.

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Reich Asset Management LLC is not affili ated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. The opinions expressed in this commen tary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services or Kestra Advisory Services. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individ ual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax adviser with regard to your in dividual situation. To view form CRS visit https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures.

Eric is President and founder of Reich Asset Management, LLC. He relies on his 25 years of ex perience to help clients have an enjoyable retirement. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Investment Manage ment AnalystSM (CIMA®) and has earned his Chartered Life Under writer® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations. A lifelong resident of Cape May County, Eric resides in Seaville, NJ with his wife Chris sy and their sons ,CJ and Cooper, and daughter Riley.

Tide is rising for Jersey indie rock

Tu ne In Turn On

By Doug Deutsch

We’re still wondering why New Jersey gets a bad rap when it comes to acknowl edgement as a fertile ground for indie rock bands.

At a recent indie rock festival, Frantic City in the o range Loop, the Garden State was ably represented by no fewer than three bands on the bill, including headliners Yo La Tengo (Hoboken), who played a memorable set that included former SNL mem ber Fred Armison on drums; bouncing Souls (New b runswick); and Titus Andronicus (Glen rock).

Two upcoming local shows at the Jersey Shore also feature New Jer sey-based bands: the pride of North Haledon, The Feelies perform Satur day, Nov. 19, at Anchor rock Club; and from New b runswick, ska-rockers Hub City Stompers, also Nov. 19 at bourre in Atlantic City.

The Feelies, formed in 1976, stayed together for 16 years and re leased four albums before disbanding in 1992. They were regulars at the seminal Hoboken rock club maxwell’s, memorably performing there after

they reunited in 2008, while also releasing al bums in 2011 and 2017.

Their debut album “Crazy r hythms,” re leased on influential Stiff records, was voted one the Top 50 Albums of the 1980s by rolling Stone magazine.

o n first listen, guitar ist-vocalist/frontperson Glenn mercer’s vocals are reminiscent of the great ’70s New York glam rock er Lou reed; no surprise as the group lists reed’s previous group The velvet Underground as among their influences, along with The beatles.

In even higher praise, Athens, Ga. rock greats r e m . cite The Feelies as having influenced their sound. The aforementioned band’s vocalist, Peter buck, co-produced The Feelies’ second album, “The Good earth.” Their current lineup features Glenn m ercer (guitar, vocals); b ill m illion (guitar, vocals); Dave Weckerman (percussion); b renda Sauter (bass); and Stan Demeski (drums).

If you’re into guitar-driven rock

P.S. Absecon-based musician Adam berardo, locally known by his stage moniker, 1Adam12, has played in mercer’s post-Feelies band for sev eral years. b erardo also performed recently both solo and as a duo with AC punk accordion maestro malcolm Tent, in a rousing Halloween weekend show we caught at the Tennessee Avenue beer Hall. For Feelies show ticket info see http://www.anchor rockclub.com/.

If harder, louder, and faster is more to your liking, then the Hub City Stompers’ toxic blend of ska, reggae, punk and oi! should satisfy your music palette quite nicely. Wear your skankin’ boots to this one as the dance floor will be shankin’ to their tunes like “Night o f The Living,” “Hard Place To b e,” and “Limbo.” Listen to “Limbo” here: https://hub citystompers.bandcamp.com/track/ limbo.

Formed in 2002, the group has released four albums to date. Their current lineup includes rev. T Sinister (vocals); Jenny Whiskey (saxophone, vocals); reggae b ob (bass); r ob George (guitar, vocals); GT James (horns) and Greg behan (drums).

Public Serpents, Idleminds, and recreational o utrage round out this energetic bill. Kudos to bourre pro moter Stephen Weiss for continuing to bring original bands to the Jersey Shore, even in the off-season.

“Hub City Stompers played for us at bourre over the summer and are a heavier ska band,” Weiss told us by email. “o n Sept. 11, at m oShow 2, it’s like a polar opposite with emo/pop punk,” featuring bands The maguas, Dear Youth, Sucker Punch, Sweep echo and Jima. For bourre tickets/ info see: http://bourreatlanticcity. com/.

Festival Wars: An in teresting rift is developing between two large upcom ing festivals taking place next year in Atlantic City: Adjacent, being presented by concert giant Live Nation on m ay 27 and 28 on the beach, and bamboozle, may 5-7 at bader Field.

b amboozle founder John D' e sposito fired a strong salvo at his concert rivals, posting on social me dia, “It’s a huge celebration of all the bands who play Starland (ballroom in Sayre ville) over and over again … topped by b link-182 and Paramore. Couldn't be happier and more excited for Adjacent. Adjacent has two headliners? bamboozle has nine.”

Adjacent’s lineup also features New Jersey-based acts Thursday, midtown, bleachers, Front bottoms, Folly, L.S. Dunes (featuring Frank Lero of my Chemical romance), and the Happy Fits. Also Turnstile, Co heed and Cambria, Jimmy eat World, Japanese b reakfast, the Starting Line, m annequin Pussy, Idles, Pup, Andrew m c m ahon in the Wilder ness, beach bunny, and m otion City Soundtrack. bamboozle’s lineup, not yet announced, will feature top rock, hip-hop and emo reunions.

The festival previously took place in Asbury Park and the meadowlands in east rutherford, with Drake, bon Jovi, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, my Chem ical romance, Jonas brothers, bruno mars, and Demi Lovato as headliners.

Any way you look at it, it’s good to see the big promoters bringing top-tier talent to town. For Adjacent tickets/info see https://adjacentfes tival.com/. For bamboozle tickets/ info: https://www.bamboozlefestival. com/.

Finally, happy birthday on Nov. 11 to Somers Point resident George Lind, a/k/a DJ G Force, longtime At lantic City rock promoter and deejay.

Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug also hàs experience writing for the one time shore-based weekly publication, Whoot! He also was a team member with Chip Braymes Advertising. Doug loves bicycling and aspires to bring the Blues to Atlantic City. He can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail. com and www.facebook.com/ dougdeutschpublicity.

with catchy song hooks, The Feelies are a must-see. Listen to The Feel ies’ “ o nly Life” here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=JPZJwi-zmeI.

Real Estate Matters

By Elisa Jo Eagan

Moving day is getting close and you are all set with boxes, tape, and a truck. but before you begin packing everything in your home, it can be helpful to know which items typically stay with your home and which items you should take with you. Use this list to help make your move easier and avoid potential conflicts with the homebuyer and buyer's agent.

ITemS THAT STAY

It is important to understand that some items inside and outside of your home are part of your home sale.

In-ground Items

Any outdoor features secured into the ground such as mailboxes, basketball hoops, and firepits are part of the home sale. This also applies to landscaping elements such as trees, plants, or shrubs.

Light Fixtures

even if you were the one who installed that expensive chandelier in the dining room, unless you list it as an exclusion in the sales agreement, it needs to stay. remember, unless you let the buyer know about it, you should not

Here's what stays and goes when selling your home

replace a light fixture with a different one. If you want to replace a light fixture, be sure to do so before listing your home.

Mirrors

This determination comes down to a case-by-case basis. If a mirror is hanging on a wall like a painting, you can take it with you. However, if it is bolted to the wall, you will need to leave it with the home. Typically, if it is above a bathroom sink it would stay, unless you let the buyer know otherwise.

Window Treatments, Cabinet Hardware, and Doorknobs

You will be expected to leave behind curtain rods, curtain holdbacks, and blinds because they are installed and attached to your home. However, you can remove and pack curtains and drapes and take them with you if you didn't already agree to leave them for the buyer in the agreement of sale.

Any hardware on your cabinets and door knobs must stay in place. If you can't part with a specific feature that you have installed, you must get the buyer to agree to let you replace it before moving out. You can also change these items before listing and or showing your home.

Smoke Detectors

You need to leave smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers behind when selling your home. When you ne

gotiate your agreement of sale, your agent will discuss the specific requirements of obtaining a certificate of occupancy and transfer of ownership for your home in your municipality.

Paint

If you have extra paint or wallpaper you have used in the home, you might want to leave it behind for the new owners as a courtesy in case they need to perform any repairs or touch-ups.

ITemS THAT Go

There are also items in your home that are not part of the sale. However, there may be ex ceptions depending on your specific situation.

Appliances

most of your appliances such as refriger ators, washers and dryers, are not technically part of the sale of your home. However, this can vary from sale to sale, and it is typical for appliances to be left to the new homeowners.

If you are not planning to include appli ances in the sale of your home, make sure to include this information in the sales contract. Also, if the appliances are being included and they are vintage, it is wise to include them in "as is" condition.

built-in appliances, like dishwashers and some microwaves and ovens are fixtures and are therefore included in the sale. If you are leaving appliances behind, make sure to also

leave any manuals and warranty information.

Hot Tubs and Above Ground Pools

A standalone hot tub or above ground pool isn't necessarily part of a home sale.

Furniture

Unless you have negotiated and agreed with the buyer to leave and include with the purchase of the home or to sell certain items separately, all of your indoor and outdoor fur niture will come along with you on your move. Any built-in items, such as shelving, desks or benches, will need to stay.

If you would like additional moving tips and or advice on your moving plans, feel free to reach out and Call or text me at 609-703-0432 or see therealestategodmother.com.

And remember to always be thankful for the service of our veterans, past, present, and future. We are grateful for the sacrifices and dedication that they have made to provide the freedoms that we enjoy here in the United States of America, and especially on veterans Day, Nov. 11.

For More Real Estate Questions, Information and Advice Contact Elisa Jo Eagan

How to stay fitness focused this holiday season

actual holiday dinner, think about what you can do to be successful and treat your body in the way it’s meant to be treated: with respect.

Shore Fit

By Bonnie Dodd-Miller

The things that make the holidays wonderful such as yummy delicious foods, fun celebrations (toasting and all) and time with family and friends are the same things that make it a challenge to stick with a health and fitness routine.

So many of us gain weight during this time. A few pounds may not seem like a big deal, but the problem arises when we don’t lose them and those holiday pounds add up over time.

Holidays do not have to be syn onymous with weight gain. I recently learned this myself after listening to my favorite podcast.

my problem isn’t so much about the holidays as it is with vacationing. What resonated with me is that va cation is just a location, and I am still me, with all of those goals that I want to achieve.

The holidays are no different.

It is possible to enjoy yourself and loosen the reins a bit while still maintaining your weight. In fact, if you have a plan in place, you may even lose weight.

The easiest way to do it is to form healthy habits now, before the season is in full swing. How can you go wrong if you have a plan in motion?

For instance, if you have a big holiday party to attend or even the

o n the day of your event, plan a simple breakfast of yogurt with sliced berries. Then go to your favorite exercise class and keep that commitment like you always do. Next, have a healthy, pro tein-packed lunch and lots of water throughout the day.

b y the time your event rolls around, you will be in such control and feel so good about yourself that if you want that piece of pie or glass of champagne, it won’t matter so much. Just remember that you are in charge of what you choose to do for yourself and what you put in your body and no one can sabotage that.

I encourage people to start sooner rather than later when it comes to preparing for the holiday season, especially since habits take a lot of repetition to successfully form.

o ne of my favorite quotes is, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” You have to spend the time during a normal week, so why should this be any different?

b e mindful and prepare yourself for what foods or beverages may be present and think about how to tackle it. maybe you’d like to spend it on dessert, or perhaps having a glass of champagne (or two) sounds good. I recommend that you pick one and not all.

I tend to eat healthy at our holiday meals or parties, skip the dessert but favor the wine. It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing mindset.

Holiday stress is common and can be a big problem when your coping strategy turns to eating foods that

comfort you. They may be comforting in the moment, but they will eventual ly leave you feeling not so great.

The foods that we eat make the difference in how we feel and can also hurt our physical health. It’s so important to make mindfulness a part of your routine now so you have it as a tool in your toolbox and can combat stress when it hits. Yoga is a great way to practice mindfulness and relax. m editation is great, too.

When things get hectic, our healthy habits start to go out the window. Staying hydrated by drinking enough water will keep you feeling energized and prevent overeating. It’s also one of the easiest habits to im plement. making one healthy choice has a snowball effect and leads to others.

I recommend setting a daily water goal that you can practice hitting now, and carry with you into the holidays. I aim for a gallon every day, but am happy to hit 100 ounces.

Also, a nightly routine to help you wind down from the day is essential for your mental health. Giving your body that much-needed break can help you sleep better and feel more energized in the morning.

Start reading a new book or jour naling and create a routine you love before falling asleep. In fact, that’s what I’m doing at this very moment. I’m writing this article before bed because it’s relaxing and something that I enjoy.

make that time to de-stress and practice a little self care at the end of every day. You deserve it.

All of my recommendations should help put you in the right headspace to make healthy choices during the holidays, or any big events in your life.

Miller is certified fitness instructor at the Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center and Atilis Gym in Galloway. She is a mom of three and resides Somers Point.

Bonnie

Retired educator brings his love of reading to the community

Educator Darren Palmer has started the latest chapter in his life by making a direct investment in the commu nity with the opening of L’ouverture books and Gifts, in the heart of Pleas antville.

Palmer worked as an assistant principal and principal in public ed ucation since 2004 prior to opening the store. Upon retiring in June of 2022, Palmer decided his next move would be to bring his love of reading to the community.

The store, located at 6 o ld Turn pike road, is named after the great Haitian general, Toussaint L’ouver ture. It’s full of natural sunlight and a wonderful selection of diverse reading material.

For comic book fans there are graphic novels featuring all the popular characters from b lack Panther, to Spiderman and The Hulk. I found myself marveling at the vintage magazine rack, where you can buy magazines that are 20 years old or more.

L’ouverture has a great selection of children’s books that includes biographies of people like Dwayne “The rock” Johnson, and “Class Act,” the se quel to bestseller “New Kid.”

When I asked Palm er about a book for my 14-year-old niece, he showed me the com pelling “Growing Up X,” by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kim m cLarin, a book by the daughter of m al colm X discussing her experience coming of

age without her father.

L’ouverture b ooks and Gifts offers books of all kinds by authors of every back ground. You will find books that share ideas from black, white, old, young, men and women, and almost every reli gious or idealistic background. Palmer opened L’ouverture to be a place where people can share ideas.

You will also find a wide array of art, postcards, some non-perishable food items, rich and aromatic coffees and teas, even a statue or two.

L’ouverture is open m on day-Saturday, but through the magic of the internet, you can shop any time, any day by vis iting www.Louverturebooks. com

You can connect with Raymond Tyler via Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram @RaymondTyler2018.

The Light with Raymond Tyler

Darren Palmer worked in public education prior to opening L’ouverture Books and Gifts in Pleasantville.

'Speaking of Atlantic City: Recollections& Memories' shares the stories of AC

By Cindy Christy Fertsch

Janet robinson bodoff of vent nor City and Leesa Toscano of Atlantic City have been longtime friends and are both local writers. The duo came together to curate a collection of heartfelt sto ries, memories, poems, and more in celebration of Atlantic City and Ab secon Island’s rich history. recently published by Arcadia Publishing, the book is a collection of over 30 stories and poems that highlight the city, the people, the culture, and the history.

“I loved this book as it brought back many happy memories of living in Atlantic City,” shares one reader. “I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever lived, visited, or vacationed in Atlantic City.”

“Speaking of Atlantic City” has been very well received by a gener ation of both locals and visitors that enjoy the intriguing and rich history of Atlantic City. Interestingly, one reader shared that she was a caregiver for someone with dementia and when she read the stories aloud to that per son, the woman lit up with excitement

as she recalled the events of her past in Atlantic City.

From Steel Pier and the infamous diving horse to the annual m iss America pageants, Atlantic City is full of stories etched in the sand and surf.

m emories of birch beer and burgers slung from Hi Hat Joe’s linger on the tongues of those who frequented Joe’s in the 1950s. The sounds of Frank Sinatra and Dean martin ring in the ears of those who brought Atlantic City to life during those times. Now those stories have

memorialized for future gener ations to love and enjoy.

“Speaking of Atlantic City: recol lections & memories” can be found on Amazon.com and at local book stores.

The authors will be presenting at the times and locations:

● November 14: 3 Pm Longport Library

● November 19: 4 Pm ventnor cof fee

● November 20: 12 Pm Cove restau rant brigantine

● November 26: 10 Am o cean City Historical Society Holiday Show

● December 3 & 4: 10Am -3Pm vent nor Cultural Art Center

"Words and pictures, poetry and prose, past and present, facts and imagination.” - praise for Speaking of Atlantic City: recollections & m em ories.

TREATMENTS

been

Janet Robinson Bodoff ( left) and Leesa Toscano (right)

Photo by Cathy Shotz.

Aggressive behavior in dogs may be a fear response

do to help them is to change how they feel about what scares them.

By Heidi Clayton

There are many behaviors that dogs exhibit that are based in fear and and anxiety. These behaviors may appear to be aggression such as growling when approached by strangers or barking and snarling when confronted with noises or new situations. The most common cause of these alarming behaviors is fear and anxiety.

The growl may not mean your dog is aggressive, but rather that they are scared. You may never know what caused the trauma that results in your dogs crippling fear, but there are ways to make life easier and happier for all of you.

It is very hard to train a fearful dog to be “obedient” when they are not comfortable in their own skin. If your dog is struggling with fear or anxiety related issues, the first thing you can

The internal fear of the scary thing is what is driving their “poor” behavior. Fear from deep inside can shut down their ability to hear, see, or smell correctly. That is why they don’t hear you saying their name and asking them to sit.

The majority of people who live with a fearful dog do too much, too fast. Try writing down a list of what scares your dog. How close can people get to them before a melt down occurs? What noises send them running towards closet? How often is this happening and how long does it take for them to recover?

I always recommend going to a veterinary behaviorist or at least seeing your regular vet to explain in detail what is occurring.

Sometimes your dog may need medications like Prozac to help regulate their emotions so that you can do any training at all. I have had success having clients give their dog a probiotic powder from Purina called Calming Care that treats anxiety through the gut. You can purchase this product without a prescription, but I always recommend speaking with a vet first. I do not recommend

Cb D until it becomes regulated by the FDA.

m ost clients are shocked when I ask them to stop walking their fearful dog. Working on skills like offered eye contact and taking treats from you in a calm setting that is below your dogs fear threshold is always better than being out on a walk and suddenly being confronted with whatever it is that scares your dog. Changing your dogs emotional response to what scares them is priority number one and you can’t do that out in the world where they do not feel safe and where you can not control what they are exposed to.

Using punishment based training methods on a fearful dog is the wrong approach. The only voice your dog

has to tell you they are afraid of something is a growl or a whimper. Punishing that voice forces them to escalate their fear response from growling as a warning to biting the hand trying to pet them. Classical and counter conditioning based training programs are proven to be most effective in treating fear in dogs. A helpful resource on fearful dogs is a book called “The Cautious Canine” written by dog behaviorist Patricia m cConnell, Ph.D.

There are more resources than ev er available to help fearful and scared dogs, please feel free to email me for guidance in getting your dog help.

Heidi Clayton is a retired 25 year veteran of the Atlantic City Police Department. She started Four on the Floor Dog Training a result of her own struggle to find a positive & reward based dog trainer in the South Jersey area. She is passionate about giving every dog, even the difficult ones, a voice and the skills they need to thrive in life. She breeds, trains, and shows her own Bull Terriers under the SoraBullys’s Kennel Name.

Showboat goes big for Christmas this year, over 50 ft to be precise

Going Places with Dina Guzzardo

Now that Halloween is officially over, it is time to start thinking about Christmas. Some may say it is too early and that we have not even had Thanksgiving yet, but there is nothing wrong with spread ing Christmas cheer a little early! The Showboat Hotel is leading the celebrations this year, with much of their Christmas décor already up.

Upon entering the main entrance, you will be greeted by an impressive display of Christmas wreaths hanging on the hedge wall in the hotel lob by, with garlands embellishing each panel. Not one, but two enormous Christmas trees situated in the lob

by. As you walk down the corridor towards Lucky Snake Arcade, you will pass many other festive decorations including a Santa area at the mid way point, with two additional trees decorated in a candyland theme. o nce you reach the atrium, you will be welcomed through a spectacular archway by two 8-foot nutcrackers and an archway swagged with luxuri ous red fabric and two huge wreaths. There are extra hints of Christmas throughout the building which will surely put you in the Christmas spirit.

However, The Showboat has de cided to go a step further this year, purchasing a giant 50 foot Christmas Tree which will be decorated in the coming weeks and culminating in an official lighting ceremony on Nov. 29, beginning at 3 pm, with the lighting ceremony taking place at 5:30 pm. The tree will be the biggest live tree that Atlantic City has ever seen and is approximately the height of five houses.

The tree will boast an impres sive 20,000 lights, making it one of the focal points of the Atlantic City boardwalk over the holiday season. It

is conveniently located on the board walk right in front of The Showboat, and you will be able to see it from some distance away once the 20,000 lights are lit. It will feel as though you have been transported to a Christmas Wonderland.

o n the night of the official light ing, there will also be vendors selling

Christmas nick-nacks to get some Christmas shopping in. There will al so be live entertainment throughout the night, a gingerbread house dec orating competition and candy cane decorating contest which are great opportunities for kids to show their creative side. There will be pop up bars and delicious food on the night provided by the in-house food and beverage team, so be prepared for some insanely tasty treats including free hot apple cider. Several give aways will take place with chances to win some amazing prizes. The entire event is being referred to as The Hol iday e xtravaganza at Showboat, and will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest holiday events in Atlantic City.

The fun does not stop after the 29th however, with vendors coming each weekend beginning December 3rd to provide you with ample oppor tunities. Santa will be making a series of special appearances throughout the holiday season beginning on the tree lighting event night and continuing every weekend up until Christmas.

Dina Productions Group are also behind the entire event on the 29th and will be coordinating a series of other exciting holiday events at The Showboat. I feel incredibly honored to be selected to produce such a prestigious event. b eing the first tree of this size on the Atlantic City boardwalk is historical and will no doubt become a landmark of the Christmas season in the coming years. I could not of course do this without my fantastic team who have worked tirelessly over the past weeks to bring my vision for this event to life. This is going to be a fantastic event with so much going on. It is something that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

Parking will be available in the casi no for a small fee; however, the entire event is free to attend. You can even make your way inside afterwards to

play some games at the infamous Lucky Snake arcade, equipped with hundreds of child-friendly games, an indoor go-kart race track, a new rock climbing wall, and mini golf. There is going to be a host of activities going on throughout the run up to Christmas, making The Showboat the place to be when you want to get that festive feeling.

Dina Guzzardo is the Owner and Creative Director of Dina Pro ductions Group. Dina Productions Group is an innovative event de sign and execution company that designs and executes all types of corporate and private parties and events. Obsessing over every detail is the reason why DPG is one of the most sought out event production companies in our area. For more information visit www. dinaproductionsgroup.com

Fairness in sports

field as do some horse racing events. With regard to horse racing, a gross oversimplification is if a jockey and his racing tack is too light with re gard to the rest of the field, weight can be added to make the race more competitive.

By Charles P. Eberson A Senior’s Observations, Opinions and Rantings

One good/bad aspect of retirement is having the time to ponder crucial/ trivial concepts to the point where my wife has bestowed upon me the title of “The ruminator.” She gave me a small figurine of “The Thinker” by rodin for my birthday. I wasn’t quite sure how to take that. The latest example of this is how I feel about handicap practice in some sports.

I was a competitive rower for many years, well, more accurate, a compet ing rower. In many Fall re gattas, masters have a few seconds deducted from their finishing time based on their age. For instance, in the 50-60 age group, a 60-year-old has more time deducted off of their time than a 51 year old in the spirit of fairness as one’s fitness can potentially de cline as the years advance. I was always encouraged each year as I was handi capped a few extra sec onds.

What I didn’t factor in was that I was racing against some retired Na tional Team members and former o lympic oarsmen. “Thanks for participating, Charles. "We have some nice parting gifts for you.” In this year’s Head of the Charles regatta in boston, the largest two-day rowing event in the world, a masters’ eight oared shell had three minutes and twenty eight seconds taken off their time because of their ages. The rowers' ages ranged from seventy-nine to eighty-six years of age. even with that considerable handicap advantage, they came in last out of thirty-five boats.

First of all, they should have been given additional time deducted be cause they woke up that day. m ore time deducted because they remem bered what they got up for and finally additional time deducted if they took no rest stops along the racecourse.

Golf also has a handicapping sys tem to theoretically level the playing

In m asters running, the concept is called “age grading” to also make racing more competitive. o f course, in my world, I see things much more clearly now and they have it all wrong.

In rowing, for instance, 10 seconds should be deducted off your time for every child you have. I believe there is a direct correlation between the number of children and the deteriora tion of competitive fitness due to lack of sleep. If you are married, another 10 seconds; a widow or widower, you win outright.

With running, there should be weight classes. Some runners are like whippets. I am more of a Clydesdale. I say handicap the lighter runners like they do the horse racing; make them carry an extra forty or fifty pounds and then have them run their race with me. There is a reason you don’t see draught horses in the Kentucky Derby. Stay tuned for more topics that get way more attention than what they deserve.

Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and pho tographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson. fineartamerica.com

THEME: VETERANS DAY

Decisions have consequences

Je ff's Journal

By Jeff Whitaker

The famed Yankee baseball player and noted word smith Yogi berra is quoted as saying, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Now in all fairness, when you investigate further, the quote is reportedly re ferring to directions that berra gave to his fellow ballplayer Joe Garagiola about how to get to his house. Sup posedly the point berra was making was that either way, Joe could get to his house. For most of us, when we come to a fork in the road, if we don’t have any prior knowledge of where the roads lead, we can find ourselves at a standstill not knowing which way to go. Depending on the fork we take, it can dramatically impact our future.

This past summer, the Phillies hit a fork in the road and management de cided to make a change mid-season. Looking back now, that was a mon umental decision and a good one at that. However, what if they had wait ed until next year? How did they make that decision? The consequences of that decision fell on the leadership of the team from the front office.

When you and I face our proverbial fork in the road, many times tough decisions need to be made. How do we make those tough decisions? We need to be grounded in our values and principles. It's all about how we lead ourselves.

I’ve written about it before that everything rises and falls on leader ship, whether we are talking baseball, the boardroom, families, our habits or disciplines. So much of what happens and doesn’t happen comes down to that one truth. Here’s the thing: it’s not all cut and dry either. When you consider the situation the Phillies found themselves in, it was quite a challenge. They had every hope that they could turn things around, but you just never know. It’s the same for each of us. Whether in business or personally, when we hit our fork in the road, it does no good to just freeze. You and I have to choose a direction. That’s why it’s important that we try to stay one step ahead of the game, always seeing what others don’t see. If you are in leadership in a company or even within your family, you need to have a kind of 360 skyhigh view of things.

The question is how do you pre pare for the unexpected? How do you make sure you are doing all the right things for your organization, your team or your family? You need to be forward-thinking in every area. Whether it’s on the baseball diamond, in the corporate boardroom, or our homes, being ready to make neces sary shifts is essential to winning. With the economy, job market and so many other factors in play, it's more important than ever that we pay at tention to signs around us, stay up to speed on trends and such, and be in a position to make shifts. Leading our selves, teams or our families is never easy. However, the key is to contin ually find ways to grow ourselves so we are in a better position to lead and help grow others around us. What are you doing to grow today?

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

This bestseller has been on my reading wishlist for years. I had heard countless Ted Talks and networking luncheons surrounding this book, but when my Crossfit gym recommend ed it as their ‘book of the month,’ I bought it. m ore than I initially ex pected, James Clear has changed my life. I have been thinking strategically about shaping my life with intention, now I feel like I can conquer the world. If you are always on the run, Spotify offers a free audiobook version of Atomic Habits available to everyone who uses their service. I highly rec ommend it. For now, here are my takeaways from the best nonfiction book of our time:

in food and biases that exist in the food industry.

Try Habit-Stacking to Start a New Behavior

Pair a new habit with an existing habit to ensure success. For example, if you struggle to drink enough water, try sitting down with a glass when you check your email in the morn ing. You already browse your inbox, so triggering the new habit will be simple. If you want to meditate daily, incorporate it into your morning rou tine. After you make your bed every morning (solidified habit), you will meditate on the edge of your bed for five minutes (new habit).

Control Your Environment

If you want to stop eating cookies in the middle of the night, don’t buy cookies at the store! Your success is dependent on your environment, so make it easy for yourself. Keep books on your coffee ta ble so you’ll pick one up when you have some free time. Delete social media apps on your phone so you won’t feel tempted to scroll for hours.

You Don’t Need to Be Perfect

Clear writes that life isn’t an all-or-nothing game one can ‘win.’ every step in the right direction is one vote to ward the life you want to live. If you screw up and sleep in instead of going to gym one day, shake off the failure and be intentional about choosing exercise tomorrow. o ne neg ative vote will not upset the entire system or goal.

Focus on the Process, Not the Goal

You Are What You Repeatedly Do

Your identity, according to Clear, is not something set in stone. Instead, it's shaped by your habits, or the actions you consistently take. If you want to change your identity, you have to change your habits.

Need to Rid Yourself of a Bad Habit? Make It Unattractive

Attractiveness plays a big role in our choices. Clear writes about smokers reading prose describing the gross physiology and negative societal around nicotine, and almost all of the participants quit their ciga rette habit. Do you want to eat more produce and less processed food? Watch a documentary about toxins

everyone has goals, but few people reach them. Why? Setting a goal requires little effort and even imag ining something positive in the future sends endorphins through your bloodstream. The hard work of accomplishing the goal requires sacrifice. Try to do ‘the next right thing,’ meaning that you decide to take one small step today and take your mind off the endgame. maybe listen to ‘The Climb’ by miley Cyrus for inspiration.

Small Changes Compound Into Big Results

b ig overhauls of your lifestyle leads to burnout. b y altering your daily routine a little each day, next year will be entirely different in a positive way. What can you do today to benefit your tomorrow?