SHORE LOCAL | Mainland | November 17, 2022

Sun Country Airlines to launch service from Atlantic City International Airport

Sun Country Airlines and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) announced that Sun Country will launch its first ever regularly scheduled service at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) beginning May 1, 2023. The hybrid, low-cost airline will fly twice-weekly, seasonal, nonstop

Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Seattle and many more,” says Grant Whitney, chief revenue officer at Sun Country.

“We appreciate Sun Country’s confidence in the Atlantic City mar ket,” stated SJTA Airport Director, Tim Kroll. “The opportunity for locals to visit Minneapolis and beyond as well as the local community hosting new visitors is very exciting.”

service to Minneapolis-St. Paul Inter national Airport (MSP). The nonstop flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays and will provide connectivity to the West Coast through their Min neapolis Hub.

“In addition, Sun Country’s route to MSP will allow travelers to con nect to popular destinations in the western U.S., including Los Angeles,

Atlantic City Interna tional Airport (ACY) serves visitors and residents of Atlantic City, central and southern New Jersey, coastal shore regions and southeastern Pennsylvania supporting commerce, tourism, and the general public. ACY is ideally located for visitors to enjoy the many tourism assets in the region including not only Atlantic City, the premier East Coast gaming, beach, boardwalk and nightlife entertain ment district, but also many other activities such as golfing, fishing, arts, wineries and over 100 miles of vari ous beach and boardwalk attractions.

Giving Thanks and a Helping Hand

ories of that fateful Thanksgiv ing can not be forgotten. re gardless of my lack of culinary skills, I have always been very thankful to have food on my table year round.

From the Editor

Idon't love to admit it, but the truth is, I’m a terrible cook. My life’s plan was to eat holiday dinners at my parents’ house forever, nourished by the love of my mother’s cooking. That didn’t stop me from giving it my best shot on one fateful Thanksgiving in 1995. bob and I were new homeowners, and I had decided to open my kitchen and cook for my family that year. I looked forward to the spread I’d lay out for the children, our parents, and grand parents. The torch had been passed, and I was ready to deliver.

Until I broke my tooth on the ex tremely overcooked turkey.

The dentist's office got a laugh out of my Thanksgiving woes the next day, and nobody has trusted me with a holiday feast since.

I am able to laugh about it now, more than 20 years later. The mem

Food insecurity is a very real problem for many families throughout the year and even more so around the holidays. Since 2020, the rise in food costs has significantly impact ed local businesses, farms, and especially local families. The requests for assistance from the Community Foodbank have increased by 500 percent. Ac cording to the most recent Consumer Price Index report, food prices have risen 11.4 percent from August 2021 to August 2022. on page 8-9, read about all that the Community Foodbank of New Jersey in Egg Harbor Township is doing to assist families every day and even more so during the holidays.

As we head into the holiday sea son, please keep this in mind. If it is within your means to do so, consider giving a little bit more this winter. Whether you donate food, money, or time, consider visiting cfbnj.org to do your part in helping local families put meals on the table this season.

We celebrate community mem bers who step up and lend a helping hand to those in need. Chef Andre Murphy, a true hunger hero, has organized and served thousands as part of his Community Feeding Tour. You can read more about Murphy on page 42 and see what he has planned to assist low-income seniors this Thanksgiving.

Holidays can be challenging when it comes to gathering. Every family has that one aunt or uncle who tends to stir the pot during the holidays. Tensions often rise and can lead to difficult family situations. This year, I

encourage you to leave the noise of politics and other hot topics at the door. Work on being present with the people you love, and remem ber, we all need a little bit of grace and love, even on our toughest days. For more on dealing with difficult loved ones, check out the feature on page 36-37.

Friendsgivings are in creasingly popular in recent years. It’s a great way to celebrate the holiday with your chosen family while also saving on food costs, as friends are encouraged to bring a dish to share. Look for more about that on page 14.

As always, gratitude is the reason for the season. We are thankful for all of you, each and every day! I look for ward to celebrating the holidays this year with family, friends, colleagues, and associates. May this season be filled with love, cheer, and grateful hearts.

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace & Love, Cindy

An early taste of winter and a flurry of thoughts on the coming season

Weather

By Dan Skeldon

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! –November! -Thomas Hood

Yes, the poet Thomas Hood said it best. “N o ”-vember is usually a colder, cloudier late autumn month synon ymous with bareness and absence as we progress closer to winter. but not every November.

Sure, the sun sets before 5pm now that we’re back on Eastern Standard Time. b ut other than the early darkness that resulted from the time change earlier this month, there’s not much bad that can be said about the first half of November 2022.

Through the first 13 days of the month, it easily takes the top spot as the warmest November on record “so far”. Seven of those days saw highs of at least 70 degrees. More impressively, November 7 deliv ered 80-something-degree record warmth to South Jersey, and also the second latest 80°+ day on record at the Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township.

but what goes up inevitably must come back down. And our tempera tures are in the process of doing that between now and at least Thanks giving. Colder than average tempera tures are expected for the foresee able future, likely evening the score and erasing the warm anomalies that we started the month with. It’s a pat tern that has delivered early snows pretty far south, from o klahoma to Kentucky, and additional chances for snow are certainly possible, though not immediately likely. but as we trade our short-sleeve shirts for some heavier jackets and close the sunroof in the car and make sure the ice scraper is in the trunk, here’s a few winter weather wander ings as the season approaches:

● It’s no secret I don’t believe in long range forecasts for the winter. but I do like to look ahead month-tomonth. And I do like the “chances” for early season cold and perhaps the chance for a winter storm or two between Thanksgiving and Christmas. o f course, I’m forever dreaming of a white Christmas myself. And in South Jersey, I usually keep dreaming.

● Looking back to last winter, it was a relatively quiet and fairly snowless one (a lack of big storms) across most of Pennsylvania, Del aware, and New Jersey. The one exception: our little corner of the Garden State, which got not one but two “South Jersey specials”. Those are storms that just hit South Jersey, and miss striking the normally snowier areas to our

north and west. And those two storms weren’t just mod erate snowfalls, they each brought blizzard conditions and over a foot of snow to the shore.

● I challenge you to find one winter forecast that pre dicted anything close to what hap pened last year: blizzards and above average snow in South Jersey, with below average snow farther north and west. You won’t…which is why I like to predict one seven day forecast or even one storm at a time.

● remember that what happens early in the winter season does not necessarily portend what type of winter it is going to be. An early season snowstorm doesn’t neces sarily mean a bad winter is on the way. Likewise, unseasonably warm temperatures through Christmas doesn’t mean we’ll escape with out a winter either. Patterns can sometimes sustain themselves through an entire winter, or flip and flop back and forth through the winter months. Every winter is different.

● A friendly reminder that only The Weather Channel names winter storms. I’m among those that don’t like their implementation of this practice, mostly for ratings purposes. And I never use them as a meteorologist, perhaps with the rare exception of “Jonas” since it took hold locally. but I do think that naming winter storms (and nor'easters) could be useful, if do ne by a government agency with a strict set of criteria and universally accepted, like hurricane naming.

● back in the early 2000’s, Decem ber 5 had a certain snowy aura to it, and was a magnet for early season, moderate snowfalls. Just a coincidence. b ut as that white Christmas dreamer, I’d love to see December 23 (a Festivus miracle for you "Seinfeld" fans) be that next coincidental snowy date, and up our chances for snow on the ground at Christmas. Historically, our chances are pretty small for a white Christmas, say around 7 percent.

● White Thanksgivings are even more rare, but Thanksgiving 1989

brought plenty of cold and snow to the Northeast on Thanksgiving Day. And a bitterly cold (but not snowy) Christmas followed.

● Historically, February is our snowi est month of the winter. but March has gained steam over the last few decades with some historic late season snows.

● Hurricane season officially ends November 30th, and with the remnants of Nicole last week, it’s been a long season we’ll thankfully see come to an end. o f course, Ian was the defining storm of 2022, with Fiona and Nicole also packing significant punches.

● There is no “official” nor'easter season, but we can generally see coastal storms from mid- october through mid-April, with a rare one in May as well. November through March is the heart of the season for coastal storms.

● I have a brand new snowblower ahead of this winter. Either that will be the kiss of death for this snow-loving weatherman or per haps it portends a snowy winter ahead. I guess time will tell.

● If all this talk of winter is depress ing, here’s a consolation count down: We’re less than 125 days until the first day of spring. Think spring!

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 Community FoodBank faces unprecedented demands

The Community Food b ank of New Jersey, specifically the South ern branch in Egg Harbor Township, provides food, along with pantry and shelter partners between Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties.

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

It was a cold, rainy Friday after noon. Cars of all models and sizes pulled up to the center and were greeted by friendly volunteers pushing carts through the puddles.

radio crews from 103.7 WMGM FM set up microphones in the lob by, preparing for their 24-hour broadcast to raise money for the food bank.

b rad Preston, the director of community impact and innovation, greeted the guests with a warm smile. The mobile pantry had to be rescued in rio Grande, so Preston was stretched a little thin that day.

The Community Food bank in Egg Harbor Township serves thou sands of people facing hunger across Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May counties.

“The need though, due to inflation and rising food prices, has increased by 500 percent,” said Pres ton. “This means we have less resources, but need to care for more neighbors, which has been difficult.”

The pantry relies heavily on do nations from the USDA, the State of New Jersey, and corporate donations from big box stores like Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. Massive towers of boxes filled with bags of Takis snacks stood between the aisles of the warehouse, with each box being a little dented.

Volunteers sort through hefty donations and restock shelves in the pantry, separating them into cat egories such as frozen food, fresh produce, canned food, diapers/ menstrual products, dairy and even baked goods. Prior to the pandemic, neighbors could browse similar to traditional grocery stores, but since 2020, volunteers have gathered gro ceries for them.

Volunteers take that into consid eration as they sort the incoming food donations. Preston says that trucks go out every day to deliver food to partner organizations.

“We take preference into con sideration, especially if someone is gluten-free or vegetarian,” said Pres ton. “There have been cases where someone’s child is having a birthday or they have a pet rabbit. We try to save certain items for people in spe cial circumstances.”

In the warehouse, pallets full of food are stacked from floor to ceiling (which is about 30 feet high). Accord ing to Preston, approximately 1.2 million pounds of food can fit in this space thanks to renovations made in 2020. Workers drive forklifts and organize donations with great care, taking note of expiration dates, pop ularity and space needed.

Along with the room-temperature goods, a massive walk-in refrigerator holds eggs, milk and other foods in a space the size of a Starbucks. A freezer of a slightly smaller size can be found across the warehouse, keeping frozen items at zero degrees constantly.

With the holidays quickly ap proaching, the Community Foodbank

The need for food has risen significantly due to inflation.

will give away thousands of turkeys, chickens or hams along with tradi tional side dishes. Preston reports that the food bank gives these meals in addition to typical allotments.

“People often ask why we do this, and it's because everyone deserves dignity. Just because you experi ence food insecurity, doesn’t mean you should have as little as possible. Everyone deserves to enjoy Thanks giving and celebrate coming together with loved ones over a delicious meal.”

This weekend (Nov. 19-20), The Community Food with nearby Target, Shop me, and other grocery stores for a day-long turkey drive. If a customer earns a free turkey or has the means to purchase another, they can do nate one to the food bank, ensuring that people in need will have a main course on Thanksgiving.

“This year we are paying 40 per cent more for turkeys and 50 percent more for chickens due to inflation,” said Preston.

“More people experience hunger; more than we realize,” said Preston. “You could be doing everything right, like working full-time or living on a fixed income as a senior. And yet, hunger can affect anyone. We want to come alongside neighbors and support them.”

The Community Food Jersey, Southern 37,000 turkeys and chicken roasters across their network of partners and neighbors in need. Nineteen thousand holiday boxes filled with trimmings and sides will be distributed alongside the main courses.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the food bank. From the warehouse to filling carts to managing distribution, Preston said they would not be able to serve as many neighbors without extra help.

The food bank gets a boost in vol unteers around the holiday season,

but Preston reminds us that hunger is a year-round issue.

Prior to the pandemic, the Com munity Food bank required a signif icant amount of paperwork before neighbors could receive food. After

About 1.2 million pounds of food can fit in the Community FoodBank’s Egg Harborship warehouse thanks to renovations made in 2020.

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, November 17th

Jersey Steve 5:30-8:30pm

Tuckahoe Inn

1 Harbor rd. beesley’s Point

Beth Tinnon 6pm

A Touch of Italy

6629 b lack Horse Pike, Egg Harbor

Township Cole Moore 6-8pm

Gregory’s 900 Shore rd. Somers Point Doug Jennings 6-9pm bocca

7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

Jeff, Tommy & Josh 6-9pm

Josie Kelly’s Public House 908 Shore rd. Somers Point

The Whitewalls 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

DJ Drift 8pm

Villain & Saint at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Friday, November 18th

B Street Band 5-9pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Jim Fisher 5:30-8:30pm

Tuckahoe Inn

1 Harbor rd. beesley’s Point Amanda and Teddy Duo 6pm Villain & Saint at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Brielle Von Hugel Trio 6-10pm

Council oak at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Greg Clarke 6:30-9:30pm bocca. 7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

Part Timers Duo 7:30pm

Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern 316 roosevelt blvd. Marmora

The Deep End 8-11pm

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

Jeff Perigo & Friends 9pm

Josie Kelly’s Public House 908 Shore rd. Somers Point

Refugee: Tom Petty Tribute 9pm

The Wave at Golden Nugget 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Amish Outlaws 10pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock

1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Gimme Gimme Disco Party 10pm

Mountain bar at Wild Wild West 2100

Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Kono Nation 10pm

The Yard at bally’s 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Event Horizon 11pm

Nola’s bar & Lounge at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Jazz Trio 11pm

Council oak at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Saturday, November 19th

Don’t Call Me Francis 12-4pm

renault Winery 72 N. b remen Ave. Egg Harbor City

Teddi Fusco 1-5pm balic Winery 6623 Harding Hwy. Mays Landing

The Loop 1-4:30pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

JEM & The Vibe 5:30-9pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Elisa Carlson 6pm

1927 Lounge at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Kenny Curcio Trio 6pm

Villain & Saint at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City Fish Out of Water 7pm

Nola’s bar & Lounge at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City No Clue Trio 7-10pm bocca

7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

Andrew Moorer 7:30pm

Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern

316 roosevelt blvd. Marmora

Glenn Roberts 8-11pm

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

Philly Keys Solo 8pm-12am renault Winery 72 N. bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

The Commodores & War 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City DJ 9pm

Gregory’s 900 Shore rd. Somers Point

The O’Fenders 9pm-12am

Josie Kelly’s Public House 908 Shore rd. Somers Point

Don’t Call Me Francis 10pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City Go Go Retro 10pm

Mountain bar at Wild Wild West 2100

Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Steal the Sky 10pm

The Yard at bally’s 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Sunday, November 20th

Greg Clarke 11am-2pm bocca 7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

John King 12-4pm

renault Winery

72 N. bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

Beth Tinnon 1-5pm balic Winery 6623 Harding Hwy. Mays Landing

Traditional Irish Open Session 1-4pm

Josie Kelly’s Public House 908 Shore rd. 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 Anj Granieri 6-9:30pm

Council oak at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

DJ Yonah 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 21st

Cat 5 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Tuesday, November 22nd

Dane Anthony Band 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Wednesday, November 23rd

Danny Eyer 5:30-8:30pm Tuckahoe Inn

1 Harbor rd. beesley’s Point Hawkins Road Duo 6pm Villain & Saint at ocean 500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Jazz by the Bob Sterling Band 7-10pm bocca

7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

The Benderz 7-11pm

The Lobby bar at Hard rock 1000 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Chris Yoder Duo 7:30pm

Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern

316 roosevelt blvd. Marmora

DJ Mormille 8pm-1am

Tennessee Avenue beer Hall

133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

DJ Luap 8pm

Nola’s bar & Lounge at ocean

500 boardwalk, Atlantic City

Plaid Salmon 8pm-12am

Josie Kelly’s Public House

908 Shore rd. Somers Point

Bryan McCloud 9pm-12am

Gregory’s

900 Shore rd. Somers Point

Garden State Radio 10pm

Mountain bar at Wild Wild West 2100

Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Three AM Tokyo 10pm

The Yard at bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Events subject to change.

WAYNE NEWTON

SAT, JAN 14

BILLY STRINGS

THU-SAT, FEB 16-18

THE COMMODORES - WAR SAT, NOV 19

JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING SAT, NOV 26

SHOW LO SAT, NOV 26

BEE GEES GOLD THE TRIBUTE FRI, DEC 2

GRETA VAN FLEET

DREAMS IN GOLD TOUR 2022

FRI & SAT, DEC 9 & 10 SOLD OUT

CAGE FURY FIGHTING

SAT, DEC 17

THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE SAT, JAN 28

DAVID SPADE SAT, FEB 4

VALENTINE'S SOUL JAM SUN, FEB 19

SOUL II SOUL TOUR SAT, MAR 4

LESLIE JONES: LIVE SAT, MAR 11

ANITA BAKER THE SONGSTRESS TOUR NOV 24 2023

ON SALE NOW

Iconic rooster still missing from Funny Farm

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Many families are in search of turkeys this Thanksgiving, but the Funny Farm of Mays Landing is looking for another per fect bird.

Squiggy, described as a "kitten in the rooster’s body," has been deemed missing for the past nine days. A $2,000 reward is promised to any one who helps him return safely to the animal sanctuary.

The popular bird often has children lining up to hold him, be cause he is known for "purring" and "closing his eyes" while being held in laps.

Laurie Zaleski, founder and own er of the Funny Farm, says that it's unlikely that a predator snatched Squiggy, but rather a thief snuck him away. “It was a busy day on the farm when he went missing, and he is such a fan favorite,” said Zaleski.

Squiggy is a long-time resident of the Funny Farm, which serves as a safe haven for over 600 animals. Emus, cows, horses, goats, birds of all kinds, cats, dogs, llamas, and even a skunk love living on the farm, connecting with local families and volunteers who adore the creatures.

“We are all so saddened that Squiggy is missing,” Zaleski said to

Shore Local News.

“He’s the most loved little rooster on the planet. He’s also a new father and has several babies with his wife, all waiting for him to come home. We hope he will come home soon!”

Zaleski has committed to not filing charges against any perpetrator and not asking any questions regarding Squiggy’s departure. She and her family all pray that Squiggy returns safely to be a father to his chicks.

The Funny Farm has become a household name because of the re cent publication of Zaleski’s memoir, “Funny Farm,” which received na tional press in People Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer. The animal sanctuary is the one of the largest of its kind in the Northeast.

Anyone with information on Squiggy's whereabouts is asked to call or text Zaleski at (609) 742-9410.

Linwood and Northfield

awaiting final numbers following close referendum votes

Voters weighed in on non-bind ing referendum questions in Linwood and Northfield Nov.

8. Now it’s up to the city councils in both towns to decide whether to follow through on those wishes.

In Linwood, preliminary totals say that voters said no to a plan to spend $2.6 mil lion to install a turf field and replace the lights at All Wars Memorial Park.

The referendum total, which is not yet official, has the question rejected by a close vote of 1,376 yes and 1,404 no.

When Linwood City Council met Nov. 9, the day after the vote, there was a large contingent from the public showing their support for the project. In addition, mem bers of council said they back the project.

Expect an even larger turnout when council meets again. The election results become official Monday, Nov. 21, the day before the next scheduled council meeting.

Tim Donovan, city director of parks, put a lot of work into the turf field pro posal.

“There's a lot of push from people in town that want to see it and for council to step up and make a decision and ap prove it anyway,” said Donovan, noting

that every council member is on record supporting the turf field. “If you're going to upset half the people anyway, then do what in your heart you feel is the right thing to do.”

In Northfield, unofficial totals say voters approve of the city issuing three licenses for the sale of cannabis and three for the delivery by those same retailers. The vote was 1,079 yes, and 872 no. The cannabis business was touted as a source of new sales tax revenue of up to 2 percent.

Whether the City Council will exe cute the wishes of the voters is an open question as council has already rejected cannabis sales, and council’s biggest can nabis advocate, Paul Utts, was voted out of office.

With a margin of just 200 votes, Mayor Erland Chau said it's hard to draw definitive conclusions from the results until all mail-in and provisional votes are counted.

“It might be too preliminary at this point because we don't have provisional votes in and the early mail-in ballots,” he told Shore Local News. “It does not seem like an overwhelming consensus.”

- James FitzPatrick

Friendsgiving...the holiday that doesn't make you panic

even exchanging tradi tional Thanksgiving for this laidback and lesser known cousin. Can you blame them?

By Tonya Smith

If there is anything that we have learned from National Lampoon’s " Christmas Vaca tion," sometimes the holidays send us spiraling into a hectic and chaotic frenzy. The need to please family begins during the Thanks giving season and often leaves us exhausted. And let’s be honest... sometimes we even begin to hate the holidays for all of its trappings. Enter the new holiday that is sweeping the nation...Friendsgiving!

What is Friendsgiving, you ask? It is a stress free/ family free meal with your closest friends. And it is becoming a thing.

There are menus, invitations, Pinterest ideas and group game tutorials that are available to allow you to have a fun and memorable

evening with your ride or die crew.

According to Merriam-Webster, the term “Friendsgiving” was first seen in and around Twitter in 2007. It blossomed a few years later and now the feast of friends is usually held the weekend before Thanks

giving but not always. You can serve traditional Thanksgiving fare or tapas or pizza. The beauty of this meal is that everyone brings a lit tle something, the wine is served and nobody is feeling the pressure of the holidays. Some people are

Though many feel that Friendsgiving came into fruition because of the wildly popular TV show "Friends," the truth is that it didn't. The image of Monica with a turkey on her head defi nitely comes to mind. And the entire "Friends" cast joining together to avoid other familial obligations does seem like it is the beginning of this trending tradition but this has been quietly going on for more than a decade.

So, get your besties together and dine/laugh/ love your way to a happy and healthy Friendsgiving. We all know what’s next and it isn’t as low key or stress free. In the immortal words of Aunt b ethany, “Play b all!”

Jewelers

Events and Happenings

Friday, November 18

Charity League Christmas Mart

▶Friday, Nov. 18, 10am-8pm & Saturday, Nov. 19, 10am-4pm

Greate bay Country Club

After a two year hiatus, the Charity League’s Christmas Mart 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 19

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 paja mas for early bird shopping specials.

Horse & Carriage Rides in Ocean City

▶Saturdays and Sundays from 12-3pm

6th & Asbury Avenue

Enjoy Horse and Carriage rides along Downtown Asbury Avenue. For more information, visit oceancityvacation.com.

Storybook Land’s Christmas Fantasy with Lights First Night Celebration

▶5pm

6415 b lack Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township

Join Storybook Land for a very spe cial evening as they welcome Mr. & Mrs. Claus for the season. Meet and greet with characters, enjoy festive tunes from the award-winning Fralinger String b and, and more fun to be announced. be there by 5pm when Santa Claus appears in his chimney, waves his magic wand, and lights the park with over one million lights for the holiday season. Learn more and pur chase tickets at storybookland.com.

Sunday, November 20

Margate Fall Farmers Market

▶10am-1pm

Steve & Cookie’s 9700 Amherst Ave.

Margate

The Margate Community Farmers Market is hosting its fall event this Sun day. The market includes vendors selling everything you need to make a great Thanksgiving dinner. The oyster bar will be open during the market. For more information, visit steveandcookies.com.

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 crafters, 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.

Cardiff Auxiliary Holiday Food Drive

▶1-4pm

raymour & Flanigan 6115 black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township

Join the Cardiff Fire Company Aux iliary in helping other EHT families this holiday season. The Auxiliary is teaming up with raymour & Flanigan to collect holiday food items for local families in need. Please help us by helping others.

Perishable and non-perishable items will be accepted.

Monday, November 21

Community Thanksgiving Service

▶7pm

o cean City Tabernacle 550 Wesley Ave.

Join the entire community and mem bers of the clergy from many different ocean City churches in giving thanks. This year’s Community Thanksgiving Service will be at 7pm at the o cean City Taber nacle. All are invited to attend. Dessert fellowship after the service. Sponsored by

the ocean City Ministerium and the ocean City Ecumenical Council.

Tuesday, November 22 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. Admission is $10 per person. For more information, contact rita Voli at (609) 408-3619.

Thursday, November 24

Annual Fast & Furriest 5k Turkey Trot ▶7-10am

Downtown Asbury Avenue, ocean City

The Humane Society of o cean City hosts its Annual Fast & Furriest 5k Turkey Trot down the oC boardwalk. For more information, call 609-398-9500 ext. 4 or visit hsocnj.org.

Friday, November 25

Christmas in the Downtown

▶2-5pm

Asbury Avenue, ocean City “our Miracle on Asbury Avenue.” Join the merchants and Chamber in kicking off an old-fashioned Downtown Christmas. Tree lighting to follow at City Hall at 5pm. Fourth Friday at Nashville North Studios ▶3-8pm

210 New rd. Suite 8, Linwood Nashville North Studios will host its monthly Fourth Friday event. This month’s theme is Yuletide Guardians, featuring the art of Alexis Flack and Shana Kestrel, with live music by reid Alburger. The exhibit will run from November 21st – December 30th. For more information, call 609-504-5044 or visit www.nashvillenorthstudios.com.

Saturday, November 26

EHT Nature Reserve Turkey Trot 5k & 1 Miler

▶9am 317 Zion rd.

The 9th Annual Turkey Trot 5k run and 1 Mile Fun Walk is on. The course is a joy to run and will challenge all participants. Pre-registration starts at 8am, 5k starts at 9am. Parking available at Atlantic Chris tian School. o nline registration closes at 6pm Friday night, November 25. Learn more at runsignup.com.

Margate’s Spectacular Shop Small Event

▶12pm

bocca Coal Fired bistro 7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

The Margate City businesses and restaurant districts celebrate Shop Small Saturday by offering sales, dis counts and contests for shoppers, and a visit from American Sign Language Santa. Santa will leave from the Margate Fire Station on Washington Avenue at Noon on Saturday, travel up Cedar Grove to Atlantic Avenue down to Collidge, and then be escorted down the length of Ventnor Avenue to bocca Coal Fired b istro. Santa, his elves, and special characters will be available for pictures. For more information, please visit mar gatehasmore.com.

Photos with Santa in Ocean City ▶Saturdays and Sundays from 12-3pm

ocean City Music Pier

Take your photo with Santa at the Music Pier. For more information, visit oceancityvacation.com. Saturdays and Sundays starting November 26.

Holiday DickensFest at Smithville

▶Saturday, November 26th at 1pm and 7pm & Sunday, November 27th at 1pm

Historic Smithville 615 E. Moss Mill rd. riddlesbrood Touring Theatre Com pany will bring the Spirit of Christmas back to Historic Smithville when they return to present their two-day outdoor Dickens Fest featuring an original, musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens’ heartwarming, classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. For more information, visit historicsmithville.com.

Atlantic City Ballet: It’s a Shore Holiday ▶7-9pm

Caesars Atlantic City 2100 Pacific Ave.

This dance review features a blend of contemporary and classical dance all set to your most beloved holiday tunes. Add singers and a live band and you will be transported to a Holiday Winter Won derland that will capture your inner child’s imagination. Tickets on sale via Ticketmas ter. For more information, visit acballet.org.

The Ocean City POPS Presents: Holiday Show ▶7:30pm ocean City Music Pier

Enjoy your favorite holiday & Christ mas songs with the o cean City Pops o rchestra. Led by conductor Vince Lee, enjoy hearing your classic favorites and modern holiday hits featuring soloist Angel Gomez. For tickets, visit oceancity vacation.com/boxoffice.

Thursday, December 1

Holiday Tree Lighting at The Yard ▶4:30pm

The Yard at bally’s 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Join bally’s Atlantic City for its o fficial Holiday Tree Lighting and the unveiling of the Winter Wonderland at The Yard on Thursday. Enjoy complimentary hot choc olate, holiday bites and a toy collection for Toys for Kids.

Friday, December 2

Ocean City Library Holiday Book Sale

▶Friday, December 2nd from 10am6pm and Saturday, December 3rd from 9am-2pm

ocean City Library 1735 Simpson Ave. Sponsored by the Friends and Volun teers of the ocean City Free Public Library and held in the Library Atrium. For more information, visit friendsvolunteersocfpl. com.

Ocean City Christmas Parade

▶6pm

Asbury Avenue from 6th-12th Streets

o cean City’s Christmas Parade rolls down Asbury Avenue. registration in formation is available at ocnj.us/christ mas-parade.

Somers Point Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

▶6pm

Shore road to City Hall

The City of Somers Point will host its annual Christmas Parade and tree light

ing. The parade begins at Dawes Avenue and continues along Shore road to City Hall at 1 W. New Jersey Avenue. Volun teer Fire Companies 1 & 2 will escort Santa Claus to City Hall where the tree lighting will take place after the parade.

Saturday, December 3

Christmas

at the Mansion

▶10am-5pm

Somers Mansion

Shore Local, in partnership with Pa triots for the Somers Mansion, present the 2nd annual Christmas at the Man sion, a holiday extravaganza including local merchants, food trucks, live music, elves wrapping station, kids activities, and, of course, Santa. The event culmi nates with a Tree Lighting at 5pm on the grounds of the beautiful and historic Somers Mansion. Learn more at shore localnews.com.

Health and Wellness

NAMI Connections and Family Support Groups

▶Monday, November 14 at 7pm St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 606 Shore rd. Somers Point

NAMI 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. Please visit ww.nami acm.org or call 609-741-5125. NAMI ACM is a non-profit 501C(3) corporation.

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 609-402-6966 for more information.

Virtual NAMI Family Support Group on Zoom

▶Wednesday, November 23 from 7-8:30pm

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

Fall in Love with Wellness

Practice Linwood 199 New rd. Lin wood

Practice Linwood is giving back to the community leading up to the holiday season by offering classes completely free in November. Practice in a small group training studio, focused on inten tional 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. boomers, anxiety, depression, eating disorder, and many others. To receive a full list and to register, call 609-6523800 or unitedbywellness@mhanj.org.

Recovery Groups

More than a dozen groups for individ uals 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 united bywellness@mhanj.org or by calling the Mental Health Association 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-today mental health. These daily groups include meditation, art, music, journal ing, eating healthy, exercise, spirituality, adult coloring, gratitude, and more. To register and receive links by email, call 609-652-3800 or unitedbywellness@ mhanj.org.

The evolving family and Thanksgiving traditions

ation to generation, but we also like to try new traditions on for size.

By Krystle J Bailey

The holidays are all about traditions, love, and family. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos and craziness of the holiday season as you make your lists and check them twice. It’s the family traditions that keep us grounded and connected during this time.

Traditions are always evolving in my family. Kids grow older while family dynamics change as we lose loved ones, welcome new babies, and celebrate marriages or adjust to divorces. The family unit is always changing, each year bringing a slightly new group of family members gath ered around the kitchen table.

If there’s one thing we know to be a constant in this life, it’s that things change. In our family, we’ve learned to tweak traditions and allow them to evolve with our ever-changing lives. A few things have stuck from gener

Check out these Thanksgiving traditions and try something new this year. Whether you use these ideas, create your own, or stick with the traditions that have been in your family for generations, may your Thanksgiving week be filled with love and peace.

Share family stories

Start with the eldest family member in the room asking them to share a family holiday story that is close to their heart. Continue around the room, sharing meaningful moments and hearing the different perspectives. You could use this time to record the stories and begin a family legacy book to be shared with generations to come.

Untangle the Christmas lights

Keep the young ones entertained, make it a team building activity, or create a friendly challenge to see who can untangle the holiday light the fastest. Many families welcome their Elf on the Shelf the day after

WINDJAMMER

Thanksgiving, so this family activity is a great way to set he mood as we enter into Christmas season.

Write thank you cards break out the crafting supplies and encourage your family to write a thank you card to some one in the room that they’re especially thankful for this year. At the dinner table or after dessert, exchange cards with your loved ones.

Start an growing fam ily recipe book

There is nothing like those old recipe cards from grandmom’s house for a dose of nostalgic family love each holiday. b egin a growing recipe book this year by adding all of the long-standing fam ily recipes then inviting Thanksgiving dinner attendees to contribute a new recipe. b ring out the recipe book each year to try new dishes and add to the collection.

Take an annual family picture

The family is always growing and changing. Take a family picture each year then print them out for the years

ahead. Each holiday, hang up the pictures from years past to cel ebrate how your family has grown and changed over the years.

Learn about tradi tions around the world

Many would argue that Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday, however many countries around their world celebrate the an nual harvest in different ways. Countries such as the Netherlands, brazil, Canada, India, and Japan all celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving.

Take some time with the kids to learn about how other cultures celebrate

the holiday and consider incorporat ing some of those traditions into your Thanksgiving Day.

Wishing you and yours a very Hap py Thanksgiving, however you choose to celebrate.

Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet. Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5

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

Billy Walton Band ‘Paint it Black’ tribute to the Rolling Stones at Josie Kelly’s Nov. 25

seeing or meeting him, to become a fan for life.

Tu ne In, Turn On

By Doug Deutsch

We’ve always had this thing for bands that work hard, or let’s say, harder than the others. Does working harder lead to additional bookings? Perhaps, there are many other factors as well, but in this business, music acts work years to achieve steady bookings and yearround work.

Here at the Shore, two acts who fit that hard work ethic immediately come to mind.

o ne is longtime Philly rocker Mike LeCompt, beloved in music clubs from b ethlehem to Wildwood and Sea Isle City, in the game for over 30 years with no signs of slowing It. only took one Mike LeCompt show last summer in Wildwood, first time ever

The other is the b illy Walton b and. We’ve seen this seven-piece “Jersey Shore b and” (as keyboardist William Paris describes them) playing seemingly ev erywhere, ourselves no fewer than three times in the short time I’ve lived here, but we aren’t complaining.

Front man b illy Walton reminds me of the quintessential modern rocker, with nods to such names who pre ceded him like Tommy Conwell and John Eddie.

Walton’s stage presence is in tune with today’s rock audiences; he clear ly enjoys what he’s doing – probably also because he’s got a great music partner up front in recently added Destinee Monroe, a dynamic singer and presence who’s had past industry music success with her sister Paris,

signed once to Interscope records, a significant indie label, as the Clique Girls.

Paris, talented as he is, adds a steadiness and day-to-day-business smarts any band needs to succeed in the long run. And did we mention their killer horn section?

“After we wrapped up the sum mer season, we went straight over seas for a 16-show tour in Germany, the Netherlands, and England,” Paris said by phone this week. “We were fortunate to have been able to pull off two tours this year. We’ll be going back next year for sure. We’ve just been in the studio prepping a new single, “I Can’t Tell,” that will feature Destinee Monroe on vocals. It’s com ing out great and we’re hoping to have it out over the holidays.”

Well, they can’t tell, but I can: “I Can’t Tell,” smokes the blues, full-bodied and dirty in the very best way. Destinee Monroe nails the vocal and you need to hear this woman sing, period. Guitarist Walton backs his singing partner, slow and steady, Paris holding down the keys, excel lent horns to close, holy tomole!

No group just falls out of bed and finds success, and the bWb members have put in the time. Walton and Paris started the band as a blues rock pow er trio in 2007, after billy joined New Jersey stalwarts Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, incorporating the good time rock n Soul vibe of Asbury Park into the group. Horns and keys were added into the mix.

Tom Petraccaro, bruce Krywinski Jr., Eric Safka, and Shane Lucken baugh built the band up. Covid struck, hurting the band’s progress (having met Paris by phone in 2020, I know this first-hand to be true). The bWb has battled adversity well.

We discussed/compared the At lantic City/Asbury Park music scenes.

“In Atlantic City, besides the casinos and a couple indepen dent venues, there aren’t quite as many places for bands to develop, compared to Asbury Park,” says Paris. “Atlantic City has more of a yearround vibe. Asbury slows down when the summer is over. We’ve noticed our fans will travel to both.

“It’s great hearing from a fan that the first time they went to Asbury was to see us. Also, many of our fans further north have tradi tionally looked at Atlantic City as the spot to gamble and when they come see us, they stay here and see other things the area has to offer.”

The b illy Walton b and will per form a special “Paint It black” Tribute to the rolling Stones at Josie Kelly’s, Thanksgiving Friday, Nov. 25. They’re also booked for New Year’s Eve at the popular Somers Point venue. Their coolest local gig, though, is billy and Destinee playing as a duo, every Sun day from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lobby bar in the Hard rock Casino.

No cover, get your butts down there, hear some great tunes and sure, watch the Eagles, too.

buddy Guy, He’s The Man:

o ne of Chicago’s greatest blues exports, b uddy Guy is coming to o cean Casino And resort on Friday, June 16. It’s billed as Guy’s “Farewell Tour.”

A good guitarist, and one of the few great old blues guitarists that are even still alive, Guy nonetheless emphasizes the showman aspect of his already-outgoing personality these days over serious playing. He’s also known for his famed buddy Guy’s Legends club in Chicago.

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.

Billy Walton Band “Paint it Black” Tribute To The Rolling Stones at Josie Kelly’s, Friday, November 25. Photo By John Loreaux

Showboat

Holidays in the Wildwoods!

5 WEEKENDS OF HOLIDAY FUN

DEC 2

Gratitude Fest

Gratitude Fest

NOV 25

Family Holiday Beach Bonfire

NOV 25

Family Holiday Beach Bonfire

NOV 25-27 Christmas in North Wildwood

NOV 25-27 Christmas in North Wildwood

NOV 26

Holiday Shopping Village/ Small Business Saturday

NOV 26

Holiday Shopping Village/ Small Business Saturday

DEC 1

Wildwood Crest Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 1

Wildwood Crest Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 2 North Wildwood Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 2

North Wildwood Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 2

Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade

DEC 2

Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade

WildwoodHoliday.com

or

Wildwood Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 2

Wildwood Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 2-3

Christmas in the Plaza

DEC 2-3 Christmas in the Plaza

DEC 9, 10, 16 & 17 Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park

DEC 9, 10, 16 & 17 Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park

DEC 10

DEC 10

Family Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting Ceremony

Family Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting Ceremony

DEC 10

howboat Atlan tic City decked the boardwalk Monday,Nov. 14 with a 50-foot tree for the holiday season. The balsam spruce was transported from North Carolina to its new home on the iconic Atlantic City boardwalk as the first ever deco rated tree in the 152-year history of the boardwalk. The tree will be adorned with 8000 lights that will set the board walk aglow during a special tree lighting ceremony at the end of November that will kick off Showboat AC’s Hol iday Extravaganza on the boardwalk.

The

DEC 10

‘Pinch the GrYnch’ Boardwalk 5K Run

‘Pinch the GrYnch’ Boardwalk 5K Run

DEC 16-17

DEC 16-17

North Wildwood Family Christmas Celebration

North Wildwood Family Christmas Celebration

DEC 19 Holiday Lights Walk

in the Wildwoods! For a full list of events and details visit: WildwoodHoliday.com

5 WEEKENDS OF HOLIDAY FUN 22 No VEM b E r 17, 2022

DEC 19 Holiday Lights Walk

dining | seafood bar | sand bar |

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

By James FitzPatrick Contributing Writer

Linwood Chatten has spent a career helping others through life’s most difficult and fright ening moments.

As a firefighter and an EMT for the Upper Township rescue Squad for more than 30 years, he has a reputation for be ing a calming presence in times of crisis.

Upper Twp. Rescue calling in backup to help beloved EMT in fight with kidney failure

Longtime colleague Carol raff said he has a way of putting people at ease in high-stress situations, not only his patients, but his fellow first responders, too.

“When we are on a call, he’s some body you can turn to for immediate direction and control,” said raff, who worked with Chatten for about as long as he was with UTrS. “I've seen him take control of some very chaotic sit uations.”

His compassion has a calming influ ence on patients and their family mem

bers, guiding them to a positive outlook, raff said.

Chatten’s longtime companion, Sue Carlsen, said his reputation as a lifesaver follows him wherever he goes.

“We've been together for eight years and there's nowhere we can go, even out of state, that somebody doesn't come up and thank this man for saving their moth er, their child, their brother, themselves,” Carlsen said. “We've been to Lancaster and our bills have been paid for at restau rants because someone sees him across the room and pays for our bill.”

Unfortunately the 52-year-old father and lifelong Upper Township resident had to step away from the job he loves due to a medical emergency of his own. Chatten needs a kidney transplant be cause he has Stage 4 kidney failure.

With limited finances and medical insurance that is forcing him to pay out of pocket for much of his care, his family, friends and the community are stepping up to help. And you can too.

There will be a benefit for Chatten from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at the Seaville Fire and rescue Social Hall, 36 route 50 in Seaville. Tickets are $25 and include dinner, music, a chance auction and a 50/50. The event is bYob

While he has spent a career helping others, it’s especially important that people reach out to him in his time of need because Chatten is not the type of person who would ask for help.

“o f course, being who he is, Linwood refuses to ask for help from anyone. So we are doing so on his behalf,” reads the Facebook post promoting the event. “If we can give even a small percent back to this man that has so selflessly given of himself to others within this community for so many years, then our efforts will not be in vain.”

“He’s very humbled by it,” raff said of Chatten. “He’s the last person who’s gonna stick up for himself.”

Carlsen said he’s paid a price for be ing on the scene of some the township’s most tragic incidents.

“A lot of the major things that have happened in Upper he's been involved in, so many that I don't even know where to start,” Carlsen said. “It’s been awful. And the trauma that leaves them with. He carries that too.”

Chatten has a long history of doing work that serves others, including as a dispatcher in ocean City and a police of ficer in Sea Isle City. Asked why he chose such path, Carlsen is quick to answer.

“It’s his heart,” she said. “He's the kindest most genuine person I've ever met in my life. He would give the shirt off of his back to anybody.”

For event tickets call Sue Carlsen at 609-742-8102 or Carol raff at 609408-0686. A GoFundMe page has also been has been set up on his behalf. See https://www.gofundme.com/f/linwoodneeds-a-kidney to learn more.

Copyeditor and Contributing Writer James FitzPatrick has been a community journalist in Atlantic and Cape May counties for more than 30 years, including 20 years as editor of The Current Newspapers.

He has worked as a reporter for Hammonton where he raised two beautiful daughters with his wife, Karen.

A High School Football Tradition for Over 100 Years: Ocean City vs Pleasantville

By Fred Miller

One hundred and f ive years ago, November 3, 1917, the o cean City High School football team played Pleasantville High School for the first time. o ne sentence in the o cean City Ledger reported on the game: “The football team of the o cean City High School played Pleas antville High School team last Satur day afternoon on the Pleasantville grounds and lost.” The local paper did not report it was a 106-7 loss. It is to this day, o CHS worst defeat.

seven points and shut out the locals.”

b ecause of the rivalry, all the games were important, but none more than the 1932 contest. o cean City was undefeated and had only giv en up six points all season. The game ended with a 24-0 win. It was the first undefeated season for oCHS.

The 1940 game and what hap pened after the game almost ended the annual Thanksgiving game. The front page article in the November 22, 1940 Daily Sentinel-Ledger re ported what happened under this headline: “2 In Hospital, 2 Arrested In Wake of Football Game Here; riot on Field Follows Annual Thanksgiving

o cean City’s way of doing things.”

Fortunately, school officials met and discussed how to control the hoodlums, and the 1941 game was played with no problems.

Few high schools in the country can boast of an athletic rivalry older than the o cean City-Pleasantville game. They will meet again on the Pleasantville field Thanksgiving Day, November 24 at 10 a.m. o cean City won last year 34-14, and leads the series 54-43. Seven games ended in a tie.

The first game to be played on Thanksgiving Day was 1921. The o cean City Sentinel reported: “A large crowd watched with interest the football contest between Pleas antville and o cean City High School elevens on the grounds here Thanks giving morning, which resulted in a victory for the visitors, who scored

Tussle with Pleasantville; o ne Car Damaged; Several Eyes b lackened.”

The article reported, “Yester day’s shameful affair was perhaps the worst to date. It sent two youths to the hospital, caused the arrest of two others, resulted in damage to an automobile and created a disgraceful free-for-all that is not in keeping with

The 1929 OCHS football team, led by Charles Adelizzio, beat Pleasantville 31-0 to finish the season with a 7-1-1 record. Richard Guest was the head coach, and Ray Fite was the assistant coach.

Thanksgiving from scratch: ways to liven up your feast and add a little spice

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Ihave been making Thanksgiving dinner for my family since I was in high school. I’ve always loved cooking, and since my mother and grandmother despise it, I’ve put on the generational apron and got to work. Every November, I’d research the best recipes and tricks for ensur ing high-quality dishes without hard work or high expenses. Throughout the years, I learned that homemade mains and sides are always best, and time management is the foundation on which the feast rests. Here’s what I’ve learned, and here’s what I recom mend for every brave soul navigating Thanksgiving in 2022:

Cranberry Sauce

This underrated condiment ties the main course with the sides, and cuts through the fattiness with tart, acidic, juicy flavor. Cranberry sauce from a can is so 1980s, and elevating the sauce will upgrade your entire meal. Pick up some cranberries from the produce section of your grocery store along with 2 oranges, a lemon,

cornstarch, white sugar, and maple syrup. Throw all the ingredients in a saucepan (slice the lemon and orange into pinwheels) along with 1 cup of water, and heat on the stove over low heat, covered for 30 minutes. The berries will soften and the sauce will start to take shape. remove the orange and lemon slices and crush the berries. Your sauce is ready for dinner!

Turkey

This holiday icon rep resents your entire meal, so make sure it's good. If you can splurge, pick up a wild turkey from the regional area instead of a butterball (the taste will be completely different in a good way, and you know that there aren’t any additives or fillers). rub the turkey with coarse salt at least three days before Thanksgiving (this will ensure great flavor and an extremely crispy skin). o n Thanksgiving morning, wipe off the excess salt and stuff the bird with lemon slices, cloves of garlic, and shove butter and rosemary under its skin. Add some cracked pepper and

Veggies

The greens of your meal serve an important purpose: add some health, bitterness and earthiness into each bite. o pt for hefty veggies like brus sel sprouts, carrots or squash. roast these veggies on a sheet pan for 25 minutes at 400 degrees with some olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and a

splash of apple cider vinegar. Top sprouts with parmesan cheese and squash/carrots with brown sugar. You’ll be surprised at how much of a hit this side dish will become.

Gravy

Making gravy from scratch is simple and flavorful. o nce your turkey is fully cooked, collect the drippings in a bowl, carefully removing bones, chunks of fat, and skin. I like to add a cup of homemade chicken stock to stretch the drippings, but if you have boxed stock, that works as well. Add freshly-chopped rosemary, thyme and garlic confit. Sprinkle salt and pepper, and add a pad of cold, unsalted butter with a spoonful of flour. Whisk over low heat to thicken the gravy. Taste and add spices accordingly.

Desserts

I recommend picking up your des serts from a local bakery instead of making them from scratch. You will be so busy and overwhelmed with savory food, and if you only have one oven, it will be occupied primarily with turkey.

paprika and roast the turkey covered at 250 degrees for five hours, or 180 degrees in the thighs and 165 in the breast. The result will be picture-per fect and mouth-watering.

Unless you are an incredible pastry chef, the everyday person can’t com pete with flaky, buttery pies from a bake shop. on the day before Thanks giving, purchase a couple pies (I prefer pecan and pumpkin) and some Christ mas cookies and store them in the fridge. You will be thankful.

Mashed Potatoes

About 45 minutes before you sit down for dinner, boil cubed, peeled potatoes until they are soft (approxi mately 20 minutes). Use a stand mixer to mash the potatoes with half a stick of butter, ¾ cup of whole milk, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, and ranch seasoning (this secret ingredi ent really makes the potatoes savory and cool). Serve warm.

Stuffing

Homemade stuffing takes some preparation, but is worth it in the end. Pick up a loaf of sourdough at your local bakery about a week before Thanksgiving. Let it get stale, then cube it into small half-inch pieces. Mix it in a large bowl with 1 stick of melted butter, 1 large onion diced finely, 3 cel ery sticks chopped finely, 6 crushed garlic cloves, 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, a spoonful of fresh parsley, 2 spoonfuls of fresh sage,

salt, pepper, and 1 large egg. Place in a buttered casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown and fragrant.

With a little effort, you can make this year’s holiday the best one ever. Here are some standard tips when it comes to making the food and serving your clan:

Start as early in the morning as possible. If you forgot to buy enough butter, you or a family member can run to the store.

Create an outline of the meal. on a piece of paper or on an Excel spread sheet, list out the ingredients for each dish and length of cooking. This will ensure that you’ve made enough food, strategizing oven space appropriately, and didn’t forget to make biscuits.

Plan breaks throughout the day. Cooking all day is exhausting, no mat ter how much you love it. Find a helper and ask that they take the helm when most everything is in the oven so you can wash up and recharge. Critique yourself honestly at the end of dinner. Could the turkey be more moist? Did the stuffing look a little burnt? Jot down these observations so you can perform differently next year. It’s the little things that count.

Get ready for the holiday season in Ocean City

Downtown ‘Earlier Than the bird’ Celebration Set for Saturday

The early forecast calls for clear and cool weather on Saturday – ideal conditions to kick off the holiday season along downtown Asbury Avenue. In o cean City, that means shopping in your pajamas for the Earlier Than the bird celebration.

The annual downtown shopping extravaganza takes place 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 19 – the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Anybody (pajama-clad or not) can take advantage of ear ly-bird shopping specials at stores on Asbury Avenue between Sixth Street and 14th Street. but free turkeys will be awarded to the best-dressed, and shoppers can text in to win gift certificates and prizes from down town merchants. Free coffee will be available at Jon & Patty’s (637 Asbury Avenue) and ocean City Coffee Com pany (917 Asbury Avenue). Downtown Asbury Avenue will be decorated for the season.

Free horse-and-carriage rides will be available starting on the weekend of Nov. 19 and 20. ride the downtown the old-fashioned way noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. board at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue.

Nov. 26

featuring soloist Angel Gomez. More information and online ticket sales are available at oceancityvacation. com/boxoffice or by calling 609-3996111.

Co MING UP

Free Horse and Carriage rides (weekends Nov. 19-20 through Dec. 17-18): Noon to 3 p.m. with boarding at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. For more information, call 1-800- b EACH-NJ.

Community Thanksgiving Service (Nov. 21): Join the entire community and members of the clergy from ma ny different o cean City churches in giving thanks. This year’s Community Thanksgiving Service will be 7 p.m. at the o cean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Avenue. All invited to attend. Dessert fellowship after the service. Sponsored by the ocean City Ministe rium and the ocean City Ecumenical Council.

Fast & Furriest 5k Turkey Trot (Nov. 24): The annual Thanksgiving morning 5-kilometer run begins at 8:30 a.m. and follows a course down the ocean City boardwalk. The event also includes a 5K walk and a onemile fun run. Sponsored by the Hu

TICKETS For 2022 H o LIDAY

Po PS SH oW o N SALE

Tickets for the annual ocean City Pops holiday show are on sale now. The show is scheduled for Saturday,

at the o cean City Music Pier. Enjoy your favorite holiday songs with the Pops. Led by conductor Vince Lee, the Pops will perform your clas sic favorites and modern holiday hits

Photo by Steffen Klenk

mane Society of o cean City. o nline registration is at runsignup.com, and race-day registration opens at 7 a.m. at the ocean City Music Pier.

Christmas in the Downtown –“ o ur Miracle on Asbury Avenue” (Nov. 25): 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Join ocean City’s downtown merchants and the Chamber of Commerce in kicking off an old-fashioned Downtown Christmas. For more information, call 1-800- b EACH-NJ.

Visits With Santa (weekends Nov. 26-27 through Dec. 17-18): 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue). For more infor mation, call 1-800- b EACH-NJ.

Photos With Santa in an o Cb P Lifeguard boat (weekends Nov. 26-27 through Dec. 17-18): Noon to 3 p.m. at the ocean City Music Pier. For more information, call 1-800- b EACH-NJ.

o cean City Pops Holiday Show (Nov. 26): The annual o cean City Pops holiday show is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 at the ocean City Music Pier. Enjoy your favorite holiday songs with the Pops. Led by conduc tor Vince Lee, the Pops will perform your classic favorites and modern holiday hits featuring soloist Angel Gomez. More information and online ticket sales are available at oceanci tyvacation.com/boxoffice.

Christmas Parade (Dec. 2): 6 p.m. on Asbury Avenue from 6th Street to 12th Street. registration for anybody who would like to be in the parade is still open at ocnj.us/christmas-parade.

Holiday book Sale (Dec. 2-3): The Friends and Volunteers of the o cean City Free Public Library will hold a used book sale in the atrium of the library (1735 Simpson Avenue) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2; and 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Shop for books, audiobooks and more.

Train Show (Dec. 3-4): Free admis sion to model train show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

‘Willy Wonka J r ’ (Dec. 10-11): o cean City Theatre Company stu dents in grades 3 to 8 will present this stage adaptation of roald Dahl’s classic story. Show times are 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. More infor mation and online ticket sales are available at oceancityvacation.com/ boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.

o cean City Holiday Spectacular

(Dec. 16-18): A cast of professional singers and dancers will present a high-energy, family–oriented, songand-dance tribute to the holidays. The o cean City Theatre Company show will feature dazzling costumes, familiar songs, special guests, toe-tapping numbers and special effects in a musical journey through seasonal favorites. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17; and 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at the o cean City Music Pier. More in formation and online ticket sales are available at oceancityvacation.com/ boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.

Foreigner rocks Atlantic City

The fans that packed the Etess Arena spent most of the evening on their feet singing and dancing along with the band for each song.

By Donald B Kravitz

Classic rock band Foreigner performed at Hard rock Hotel and Casino in Atlan tic City Friday, Nov.11, 2022.

Foreigner played a significant role in the evolution of classic rock in the 1970s and 1980s. Hits like 'Jukebox Hero' and 'I Wanna Know What Love Is' topped the charts in the United States and Canada.

Upon the conclusion of their 2022 tour, the b ritish band will perform a farewell tour in 2023 and 2024.

Their performance in Atlantic City marks the end of their semifinal tour in remembrance of Ian McDonald, original member of Foreigner, who passed away earlier this year from cancer.

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

The benefits of meal prep

● 1 tsp oregano

● 1tsp. Garlic powder

● 1tsp onion powder

● 1tsp basil

Directions

Nu trition

By Nancy Adler

Meal Prepping is essen tial for staying on your jour ney of weight loss and proper nutrition. When you plan and organize the upcom ing weekly meals for you and your family you are planning for success. Meal planning doesn’t have to be daunting. I believe it’s a shift in prioritization. It’s working on your future self.

Without prop er meal prep and planning, we end up grabbing and going. Impromptu eating can leave us at the mercy of whatever comes along such as fast foods, take out and easy to grab carbs. Making a fast, quick decision on what is going into our bodies can be stressful and lead to bad choices.

Having well thought out meals available in the freezer or refrigera tor is the way to go! Whether we are sitting down to a meal or grabbing something nutritious on the way out the door, having a plan is key.

You will also waste less food when you prepare meals in advance. Have you ever gone to the grocery store and bought so much food only to end up having to throw it away? It happens a lot. If meals are planned out in advance and prepped, you’ll be sure to finish eating everything on the shopping list that week. Meal prep saves money and keeps you healthy. You may find this recipe in my cookbook “ Nancy’s recipes for Life “ available at my Linwood office and Capellas o il and Vinegar Store in o cean City.

Chicken Meatballs

Ingredients

● 1 lb ground chicken breast

● 1/2 grated Parmesan cheese

● 1/4 cup egg whites

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Mixture should be sticky. roll into 1 inch balls. bake uncovered on a cookie sheet for 25 minutes. You may freeze ahead of time. Serve in soup, and serve with your favorite sauce. Serves 18

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

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Overwinter your plants by moving the garden indoors

Le t It Grow

By Tammy Thornton

What a difference a week can make! Last week, our gardens were bask ing in surprising Novem ber temperatures in the 70s. b ut this week, reality has set in and evening lows have our plants looking for an escape plan. While a good layer of mulch may be sufficient for many of your plants, tender perennials, annuals, and tropical plants can be preserved by bringing them in doors until spring or summer.

In our hearts, we knew it couldn’t last, but those warm days may have lulled us into a false sense of security. We skipped over “sweater-weather” and jumped right into an arctic freeze. So it’s time to go out into your garden and make some assessments. Fortunately, the closer to the shore you live, the bet ter protection you may have from hard freezes, since the ocean keeps things more temperate. Depending on where you live, you may be surprised to learn

that many of your annuals haven’t suc cumbed to the cold temperatures—yet. It’s not always a one and done; some of your plants may survive one cold snap. but sustained lows and especially alternating freezing and thawing will kill tender plants. Though tropical plants and annuals such as tomatoes and basil can be severely damaged in tempera tures below 50, you may have gotten lucky so far. Within your own garden, you may find microclimates, giving you further protection. Plants growing near the house with an overhanging roofline may have fared a little better than those completely exposed to the elements. However, your luck may run out soon. If you hope to preserve some of your kinder, gentler plants, it’s time to move them indoors.

You have several options when it comes to preserving your plants. You can bring them in as houseplants, give them shelter as dormant plants, or take cuttings. If keeping them as houseplants or cuttings, taking action sooner rather than later is best. once plants have been subjected to extreme temperatures, they will go into dormancy as a means of self-preservation. bringing your plants in earlier will allow them to adapt to the change in environment while they are at their healthiest. For the best results place tropical plants such as hibiscus in

a warm, sunny location in the house. Alternatively, you can wait until they’ve been exposed to cooler temperatures, which will throw them into dormancy. In this case, you will keep them in a darker cooler area such as a basement or garage (as long as temperatures won’t stay below 50 for tropicals). In either situation (houseplant or dormant plant), water sparingly. Keep in mind, even if you do everything right, your plants may react to the move indoors. Some of us just don’t handle change very well, right? Your plants may experience leaf drop and go into a bit of shock. Don’t rush to water them as a solution, since overwatering may further stress or kill your plant.

Taking cuttings of annuals (such as coleus) is another way of preserving your favorite plants for the following season. Last year, a fellow gardener traded plants with me. She introduced me to angel’s trumpet (brugmansia, not to be confused with datura). These “sticks” spent the winter in a vase of water in our downstairs bathroom. They developed wonderful roots and bloomed stunningly in the summer. They were quite a treat, but these tropical beauties would have never survived the bitter cold temperatures of winter. My friend normally overwinters her cuttings by rooting them in soil, not just a vase of water. This year, I’m going to exper iment with different methods: digging up the entire plant and potting it up, taking cuttings rooted in water only, and taking cuttings that are planted in soil—

gardening always leaves more to learn.

b efore bringing your outdoor plants inside, in spect them for insects or pests. Cut off dead leaves or debris that has settled on the soil to make sure they aren’t harboring unsavory characters. You can wash away these pests with a garden hose, or may need to use insec ticidal soap. You can also use a mild detergent dilut ed with water in a squirt bottle. It’s not a bad idea to keep these plants iso lated when you first bring them indoors. That way if they are entertaining un wanted guests that you missed, such as spider mites or mealybugs, you won’t be passing them to your other houseplants.

overwintering your plants will allow you to preserve a beloved plant and save you loads of money in the spring. o nce temperatures warm up next year, you’ll have a big jump on the season. In the meantime, you’ll have your plants to keep you company during the lonely months of winter. Who knows, maybe some of these friends brought in from the cold will surprise you with a flush of off-season flowers.

We would love to hear from our readers. Have you had success with overwintering your favorite plants? Send your comments, pictures and questions to shorelocalgardener@gmail.net.

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.

Bring wax begonias indoors as houseplants, but allow tuberous begonias to go dormant in your garage.

Dealing with difficult people at holiday gatherings

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

s the holiday season sets on New Jersey like the first snow fall, families gather for good and for bad. one Tik Tok influencer noted that for many of us, if we were not re lated to our more problematic relatives, we would hate them. Nevertheless, blood is thicker than generational differences, political divisions, and cringy comments. We all have that one aunt who is a flat-earther, a grandmother who always asks why you’re single, or a brother who burns the stuffing every single year. How can we put aside our issues and celebrate the joys of the season?

Dr. Debbie Ellis, a licensed psy chologist from Australia, published the aptly-named book, ‘How to Hug a Porcupine: Easy Ways to Love the Difficult People in Your Life.’ The book details strategies on focusing on the positive qualities of the porcupines in our lives and

practicing empathy in non-recipro cal interactions. Like porcupines, difficult people use fear and anger to intimidate perceived threats but have soft underbellies beneath their needles. Here are her tips for loving difficult people and making the most of family gatherings:

Most ‘Aggression’ Is Based Out of Fear

In the wild, almost every preda tor (other than polar bears) attack humans because they feel like they’ve been backed into a corner. A mother bear lashes out to protect

her cubs and a tiger pounces on a human perhaps because they need to defend their hard-hunted food. In the same way, difficult people may com plain or yell because they feel out of control or desperate to feel valued. Your dad may lose his temper during political discussions because he wor ries that the world is falling apart. Your cousin may start crying when the guests are late because she really wants this dinner to go smoothly. See beyond the reaction and pay attention to the motives behind the reaction. This will help you be able to connect with the person instead of their defenses.

Remain Calm and

Grounded in Reality

When a difficult person starts to lose their cool, it’s crucial to maintain your composure, because if every one becomes emotionally volatile, the event will become traumatic for almost everyone involved. When you notice that your mother is slamming cupboards, take some deep breaths.

Ask her what’s wrong and remind her that everything is okay and everyone is safe. There’s no need to freak out. Try to dodge any triggers that may cause you or others to raise your voices or act out. In fact, take a break from the situation and use mindful ness strategies if you feel yourself start to lose composure.

Control Your Environment

Preplanning can really help ev eryone have a good time. This may mean that you set a rule to not bring up politics or religion or a hard top ic during the gathering. Take your emergency anxiety medication if you expect the event to increase your symptoms. If your one person does all the cooking and panics because of the overwhelming responsibility, order takeout. Especially if you are

the host, you can control a lot of variables to ensure that everyone has a lovely time at your event.

Don’t Take It Personally

Porcupines use their nee dles when they are scared, no matter who is in the way. The same is true for difficult people. Your daughter may isolate her self during the dinner because she feels overwhelmed, even if she loves you. Your son-in-law may smoke during the party be cause he needs to feel better, not because he wants your house to smell bad. We cannot control other people, and most likely, they are so focused on themselves that they aren’t paying attention to you or your hard work. So when your uncle trashes Joe b iden, he isn’t thinking about your devotion to the Demo cratic Party.

Plan For the Day After

Self-care will preserve your ener gy and restore your sanity. After the stressful event, do something that makes you feel good, like watching a beloved movie, getting your nails do ne, or playing pickleball with a friend. You have worked hard to make the holidays good for everyone else, so do something that makes you feel jolly. Without caring for yourself, you won’t be able to care for others.

Is Bart Blatstein good for Atlantic City?

By Scott Cronick

Let’s say – to put it mildly – I was a bart b latstein pessi mist.

For years.

o n a personal level, we would share brief interactions at events, but I never really conversed with him, and my interactions with him were far from dazzling.

Despite my professional admi ration for him – the real estate de veloper is not only wealthy but sin gle-handedly changed neighborhoods in Philadelphia, specifically Northern Liberties – I thought he was pompous and unrelatable.

I soured on him after he bought the former Pier at Caesars in 2015, renaming it The Playground and eventually selling it back to Caesars two years ago after the once-thriving mall lost the Apple store, most retail stores and all of its restaurants.

In 2016, he purchased the 1.4-million-squarefoot Showboat for $23 million from Stockton Uni versity, at that time saying he wanted to eventually find a way around the deed restriction an add another casino … some thing the city certainly didn’t – and doesn’t need.

I was further perturbed by his decision to buy the Garden Pier for $1.5 mil lion, forcing the Atlantic City Historical Museum and the Atlantic City Art Center to close and relocate. At the time, he promised a “multifaceted entertainment destination with art, music and food. It still sits empty, but at one point had a makeshift bar outside that quickly failed.

Earlier this year, when b latstein announced he would build a $100 million indoor/outdoor waterpark on land he owns between Showboat and ocean Casino resort, I was skeptical, particularly when he was asking for county assistance to help finance it. In fact, my words were: “I will believe it when my fat ass goes down the waterslide.”

Well, it looks like my fat ass will be sliding this summer as blatstein’s project – now funded entirely by him with private investors - is ahead of schedule and will be open early next summer. Drive by and it’s impossible not to be impressed by its progress and that we will soon have a huge family destination on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

I will take it a step further to say that I was wrong about bart blatstein and have come to the decision that he IS good for Atlantic City.

That eye-opening moment came when my Tennessee Avenue b eer

Hall partner Mark Callazzo ar ranged a lunch to make peace between me and b latstein. After an hour, blatstein’s staff and Callazzo left, leaving me and blatstein to sit for anoth er hour and a half.

In that span, I learned blatstein isn’t pompous, he’s confident. And under that sometimes shielded persona, blatstein cares about Atlantic City.

In that conversation, the more I learned about b lat stein’s decisions, they made perfect business sense. There are two sides to this story, and here’s why I changed my mind about bart blatstein:

● b latstein wanted to make The Playground a success, but a former Caesars executive made b latstein’s efforts impossible, taking down all signage in Cae sars Atlantic City to promote The Playground or even help people find it with directional signage. Caesars also made it difficult for Playground customers to park, and Caesars discontinued players being able to use their comps at the Playground – against what

was originally promised – deliver ing the final nail in the coffin.

● blatstein just didn’t buy Showboat, he saved Stockton University’s butts by taking that monstrosity off their hands. Stockton Presi dent Harvey Kesselman admits regularly that b latstein did the University a major favor by not only buying it, but paying a fair price. And, let’s be grateful: If blatstein didn’t buy Showboat, it might be a tombstone in the sky like the former Atlantic City Hilton (Atlantic Club) is today and Trump Plaza and the Sands before that.

● It took a while, but the Showboat has finally found its place in Atlan tic City. The Lucky Snake Arcade is awesome, providing video game, pinball and games of skill lovers a place that rivals no other in At lantic City. According to blatstein, it’s the largest arcade on the East Coast.

● Then came the Lucky Snake race way, the largest indoor go-kart track on the East Coast that is not only doing well, but is a hell of a lot of fun. There’s also a mini golf course, axe throwing and more. The Showboat is truly a family destination, and Atlantic City has never had anything like it before.

● When the Island Waterpark opens next summer, expect renovated rooms and family suites to sleep up to 10 people. The rooms defi nitely need some upgrades, so this is another plus. This waterpark will be a game-changer for Atlantic City – year round!

● b latstein also promises new restaurants will debut when the waterpark opens, as well. What those restaurants will be remains to be seen, but with a major wa terpark, he should take advantage of that and bring in a big family culinary brand, maybe even lure the rainforest Café to relocate or find another themed brand that wants to be part of what blatstein is building there.

● As for the Garden Pier, the jury re mains out. blatstein promises me that he has ideas in the works. So, for once, I will refrain from judg ment and take him for his word.

● b latstein and his team are also hosting a remarkable amount of events at Showboat that might not have come to Atlantic City if he didn’t buy Showboat from horror cons to film festivals to boxing to concert experiences. Some will get mad at him because his Show boat staff is aggressively going after any and all events, even if it means stepping on other event organizers’ feet. I get that, and I would be mad if he did that to me. b ut b latstein is a businessman,

and when you have a huge prop erty like that, it takes everything to keep it going when you don’t have a casino to support it.

● b latstein is part P.T. b arnum in the sense that he wants to create major events that will generate not only media attention but bring people to Showboat. He hosts an outside circus in the summer, flanked by a seafood buffet, both run by outside companies. The huge Diner en b lanc event that debuted this past summer on the b oardwalk was a huge success, drawing thousands of people. That was all blatstein. This week, he installed a 50-foot Christmas tree on the b oardwalk in front of Showboat. It’s the first-ever Christmas tree of its size on the boardwalk, and it will be decorat ed with 8,000 lights and come to life 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, kick ing off a month-long festival that will include everything from local singing groups to games and rides for the kids, Santa in a lifeguard boat, shopping form local vendors and more. The tree will be the centerpiece of Showboat’s Holiday Extravaganza on the boardwalk, which will happen noon to 5 pm. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 24, as well as a breakfast with Santa 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Dec. 17, and Santa sto rytimes, too.

● He has other ideas up his sleeve, and some of them are very ag gressive, exciting and would be great for the city. I just can’t tell you what they are yet. I promised.

● My new friendship with blatstein also developed into a group called the Atlantic City Stakeholders, where like-minded business peo ple in Atlantic City have a place to go to help change the frustrations they face every day as business owners … and there are many. our hope is that we can solve – or at

least help alleviate – those issues together as a unified group. With solidarity comes great power.

So, yes, I am admitting I was wrong about b art b latstein. Is he some angelic presence who is bestowing his gifts on Atlantic City? No, he’s a businessman first and foremost. Does he want to succeed and help Atlantic City in the process? Absolutely.

blatstein calls what he is doing in Atlantic City “his last crazy,” meaning as he gets older, he has one more crazy project that he would like to see change a city just like he did in Philadelphia.

Luckily for us, he chose Atlantic City this time.

For more information, go to Show boatHotelAC.com.

What’s Cooking

● If you’re looking for a great place to stock up on Thanksgiving es sentials, check out Cookie Till’s Margate Community Fall Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside Steve & Cookie’s on the Verandah in Margate. The o yster b ar will be open. Go to SteveAndCookies. com.

● The Epicurean Society, led by Ed b lake, does a great job exposing locals to great dining options in the area. The culinary society’s an nual holiday event at Sofia in Mar gate is always a special event as

they pair great holiday cuisine with Greek wines. This year’s event takes place 6 p.m. Dec. 5, and includes passed hors d’oeuvres, and courses including beet and goat cheese Napoleon, pan-seared duck breast with mushroom ri sotto, choice of roasted lamb loin, pan-seared branzino with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, or Greek coffee dry-rubbed hanger steak with roasted garlic mashed, plus dessert of poached pear with Frangelica custard. Members pay $95; nonmembers $110. reserve by emailing edblake@blakeAndAs sociates.net or find The Epicurean Society on Facebook.

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.

By Tammy Thornton

Back in 2003, I decided to host Thanksgiving for the extend ed family group including in-laws. In those days, we numbered about sixteen people. Now I realize I must have been temporarily insane because I had a seven-year old and a five-year old, and was nursing a one-month old baby.

Planning was crucial. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a make-ahead feast article in my bon Appetit magazine. It gave an organized schedule to sepa rate the tasks for the week into a less stressful, manageable plan. The pages of that magazine are now tattered, but I still follow the same basic schedule. one of my favorite parts is making the brine for the turkey. With the gigantic pot of salted water and spices, I feel like I’m stirring my witches' brew.

brining your turkey infuses it with flavor and keeps it moist and juicy.

Salt causes things to retain water, something I painfully remember the day after eating out at a chain restau rant. If you follow my trusty schedule, you should begin brining your turkey T-day minus two; so for a Thanksgiving meal, start on Tuesday. Plan ahead and think about what you are going to do. I’m your poster child for learning from my mistakes. Consider that a twen ty-pound turkey, plus eight quarts of water, is heavy. I usually purchase a disposable styrofoam cooler or very large pot to use in the refrigerator to hold the beast, and use a rimless cook ie sheet underneath to support the whole thing. Use large bags (double or triple) inside your cooler or container. The last thing you want is a broken styrofoam container and a turkey brine flood. In the past, I used clean trash bags, but things have come a long way since 2003. So, in recent years, I have been able to find brining bags, or at least turkey roasting bags. Make sure your turkey is fully immersed into your potion and secure the bags. Some peo ple recommend using a standard large cooler that can be used outside of the refrigerator to save valuable refrigera tor real estate when you need it most. but, personally, the fear of giving 20 people salmonella makes me opt for the refrigerator.

Your turkey should be immersed in its brine for 18-20 hours. If you are a procrastinator like me, who has had a turkey that wasn’t quite defrosted, this will finish it off. (Don’t forget to remove that gross bag of neck and giblets.) on Wednesday, remove the bird from its brine, drain thoroughly, pat dry, and store it in a large roaster layered with multiple paper towels. In print, this sounds so simple, but you may want to enlist the help of a friend or partner. I have performed this step with near-cat astrophic results that were worthy of an “I Love Lucy” episode. The water and turkey will be very heavy and you don’t want that raw turkey water on your floor. Don’t let all these warnings scare you off though. You will be glad when you and your family taste the end result. When it comes time to roast your turkey, don’t stuff a brined bird. brining a turkey does not make it overly salty, but it could cause your stuffing to be too salty. bake your stuffing outside of the bird in a separate dish. It then becomes “dressing”, which is better anyway, since you can achieve those browned edges instead of the mushy stuffing that comes out of the turkey’s cavity. Also, when you stuff a turkey, you must cook it for a longer amount of time to ensure that the stuffing has reached a healthy temperature. often this results in an overcooked, dry turkey.

When you roast your turkey schmear it with herbed butter under the skin and inside the bird. Instead of stuffing, loosely add a few apples, onions, and herbs that will infuse flavor and can be disposed of later. once your turkey is fully cooked according to your recipe and thermometer, be sure not to skip the step of letting it rest. Depending on the size of your turkey, it should rest between 20-30 minutes. If you carve it straight out of the oven, you will lose all the juicy goodness that you worked so hard two days ago to achieve. It will give you time to finish the gravy and get Aunt Hilda to the table.

When you display your plated turkey, throw a few of the extra fresh herbs around the platter. It will make every thing look a little fancier with small effort. When you serve the carved turkey, please pass around homemade cranberry sauce. It’s so easy to make, and can be made many days in advance (email me for the recipe). It would be a travesty to cover that culinary goodness in the canned jellied stuff that still has the tin can lines on its side.

once you’ve hit this step, sit back and enjoy all the good stuff you worked so hard to make. Your family and friends will appreciate the extra time you spent brining your turkey as they taste its tender goodness. They may not even notice that the mashed potatoes are lumpy. Most of all, look around the ta ble and thank God for those loved ones surrounding you. God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Murphy’s Chicken and Potatoes continues to feed thousands

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

In 2020, local cafe owner Andre Murphy had a vision: share his family’s chicken and potatoes recipe with local people experi encing hunger across Atlantic County.

In partnership with his church Grace Tabernacle, Murphy hit the streets of Atlantic City, Pleasantville and Egg Harbor City with tens of trays of the hearty stew. Volunteers came alongside the chef and served hot meals to people in need.

Two years later, Murphy has served over 15,000 meals to people in pov erty, seniors, students and first responders across the region. He even received a proc lamation from State Assemblymen Mazzeo and Armato for his dedication to service.

Murphy’s Chick en and Potatoes is FDA-approved, established as a brand, and cooked through a food

distributor in Pleasantville. The or ganization purchased a food trailer earlier in 2022 to help them feed more people, more efficiently.

Days before Thanksgiving, Murphy will serve three senior living centers in one day: Village of Saint Peter, Pleasantville Housing Authority, and Jeffries Towers of Atlantic City. over 20 volunteers along with Murphy will put smiles on seniors’ faces and warm their bellies with delicious stew.

“There is something special about a hot meal,” said Murphy. “It can make a huge difference mentally and phys ically.”

After their Thanks giving event, Murphy will kick off a holiday feeding tour, hosting Christmas parties for seniors and providing food for first respond ers and healthcare workers. They’ve devel oped relationships with some of their recipients from previous years, so they look forward to reconnecting with locals across the county.

“Now that we are a brand and working with a distributor, we can send pallets anywhere in the country,” said Murphy. “My vision is to become recognized across the state, region and even country for caring for our neighbors and feeding thousands.”

At the end of the year, Murphy will launch a new feeding campaign called

racing to Feed. It will en courage potential donors to give $5 per week to sup port hot meals for those in need or get involved as a volunteer.

Murphy’s Chicken and Potatoes has been served to a variety of local busi nesses: Atlanticare, ACUA, City Wide Towing, Atlantic Cape Community College, C. r o.P.S., and Salad Chef. The Community Feeding Tour has been sponsored by big names in South Jersey, such as Hard rock Hotel and Casino, NJEA, Fulton bank, Copiers Plus, PAL of EHT, and many more.

When he isn’t in senior centers or on the streets, you can find Chef Andre at Salute Cafe in Shore Medical Center, where patrons can purchase chicken and potatoes and support the community feeding cause.

For more information, check out Murphy’s website at www.Commu nityFeedingTour.com.

Murphy’s Chicken and Potatoes

Chef Andre Murphy has fed 15,000 meals to those in need

Eagles ace midterm exams

excitement of watching the Phillies' thrilling journey to the World Series.

MIDSEASo N G r ADES

Quarterback

By David Weinberg

One loss doesn’t cloud the Eagles’ impressive start to the season.

Despite a 32-21 defeat to Washington Monday night, the team is still tied with Minnesota –which they beat earlier in the season – for the best record in the NFL at 8-1.

The loss to the Commanders was indeed cause for concern, but given the way the Eagles have played for most of the season, they still have to be considered the favorite to earn the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs and return to the Super bowl for the first time since the 2017 season.

It's a pretty special time for Phila delphia sports fans still basking in the

Jalen Hurts has gone from ques tion mark to exclamation point as the frontrunner for NFL o ffensive MVP. He's thrown 14 touchdown passes against three interceptions. He also leads the NFL with seven rushing touchdowns, the most of any quar terback. G r ADE: A-plus.

running back

After failing to score a single TD last season, Miles Sanders already has six this year. He's also among the top rushers with 710 yards while averag ing 5 yards per carry. boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell haven't been major factors lately. G r ADE: b -plus

o ffensive

line

They've suffered a few minor inju ries, but are still among the league's best offensive lines. r ight tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce are having Pro bowl-level sea sons. Guards Landon Dickerson and Isaac Seumalo are solid. Left tackle Jordan Mailata has been impressive most games, but is a bit inconsistent.

G r ADE: A

Wide receiver/tight end

This is the most improved seg ment of the offense. Newcomer A.J. b rown has been terrific. He leads all NFC receivers with six TDs while catching 47 passes for 725 yards. DeVonta Smith, the other part of the 1-2 punch, has also had a good season with 46 receptions for 481 yards. Tight end Dallas Goedert leads NFC tight ends with 43 catches for 544 yards and three TDs. G r ADE: A Defensive line

Another solid group. Javon Har grave leads NFC tackles with seven sacks. Tackle Fletcher Cox is no longer an elite player, but still has three sacks. rookie Jordan Davis is sidelined with an ankle injury. Newly acquired end robert Quinn has yet to make an impact. Ageless end brandon Graham is still effective with three sacks. Josh Sweat has 3.5.

G r ADE: b

Linebacker

T.J. Edwards has blossomed into a terrific inside linebacker. He leads the team with 86 tackles, has two sacks and is also reliable in coverage. Newcomer Haason reddick has been as good as advertised with 6.5 sacks. Kyzir White is second in tackles with 63 tackles. He's the reason touted rookie Nakobe Dean can't get on the field.

Secondary

The best part of the defense. New safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson's six interceptions are the most by an Eagles safety since Greg Jack son had six in 1994. New cornerback James b radberry has three picks and has teamed with Darius Slay to give the Eagles their best cornerback duo since Sheldon b rown and Asante Samuel.

G r ADE: A-plus Special teams

Place-kicker Jake Elliott is enjoy ing another good season, but the rest of the unit has been disappointing. Elliott is 6-for-8 in field goals and one-game replacement Cameron Dicker, who is now with the Char gers, won Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting two field goals at Arizona. The return game has been mediocre and the coverage units have been burned by a couple fake punts.

G r ADE: C-minus Coaching

Nick Sirianni has been pushing all the right buttons for the most part. o ffensive coordinator Shane Ste ichen has them averaging 28 points

per game, which is second in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has been too conservative at times, but still leads a productive unit. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay is feeling some heat.

G r ADE: A.

MIDSEASo N AWArDS

o ffensive MVP: Hurts

Defensive MVP: Gardner-Johnson

Special teams MVP: Elliott ***

Local boxer Justin Figueroa got a chance to perform his signature celebration again Saturday night.

Figueroa (2-0, 2 Kos), an Atlantic City lifeguard and 2017 Holy Spirit High School graduate, broke out the "Worm" in the ring after registering a third-round TKo over Philadelphia's

Jeremiah Kendrick (1-3, 1 Ko) at Showboat At lantic City.

"I love Atlantic City and I love hearing the fans cheer," Figueroa said. "I'm so proud to be an Atlantic City native. When I hear those fans roar, I turn into a lion."

Figueroa gradually took control of the scheduled four-round, junior-middleweight bout. He unleashed a flurry midway through the third round that rocked Kendrick, then connected with a combination that sent him to the canvas.

Kendrick managed to beat referee brian Vera's 10-count, but appeared to slightly stumble. Vera wisely stopped the fight at 2 minutes, 53 seconds of the round while the crowd in Show boat's Carousel room cheered.

"I knew he was strong and had some power, but he started to get tired while I got stronger," Figueroa said. "I trained very hard for this in the gym and put in my roadwork on the Atlantic City boardwalk. I had that sea breeze in my lungs."

Figueroa, 23, got off to a bit of a slow start, but began to pick up the pace in the second round behind a crisp jab. A former football player and

wrestler at Holy Spirit, he also relied on that background.

When Kendrick grabbed him, Figueroa, who finished second in District 29 at 220 pounds as a senior, tossed him into the ropes, drawing a warning from Vera.

"When he grabbed me, he was holding on for dear life," Figueroa said. "I heard (Holy Spirit wrestling coach) ralph Paone's voice in my ear and I hip tossed him."

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.

Local skatepark seeks funding for improvements

By Krystle J Bailey

New paint, installed lights, and portapotties are just a few of the improve ments soon to be made at back Sov skatepark on Sovereign Avenue in Atlantic City. The once run down park has been nurtured back to life with the help and love of Skate AC, a non-profit 501c3.

Along with the community of volunteers and avid skateboarders, Skate AC members have worked relentlessly to provide a safe space for skaters of all ages to gather. The park’s popularity has grown over the last several years with the addition of regular park cleanups and free skate lessons as well as fundraisers and community events.

This year, the Skate AC com munity is looking to raise funds for further improvements at back Sov. The fundraiser, which began on No

vember 2, has raised over $5,000 via GoFundMe. The raised money will provide more lighting, enhanced concrete reinforcements on ramps, bathrooms, snack stand improve ments, and a new paint job. Security cameras were recently installed at the adjacent boys and Girls Club in order to improve safety measures in the surrounding area.

In an interview earlier this year, Skate AC President Jay Klotz said, “We are providing opportunities that my friends and I didn’t have growing up around here. There were limiting beliefs about skateboarding culture, so we always felt like we didn’t have a place to belong. We try our best to make sure the kids around here feel appreciated.”

back Sov has been home to the local skateboarding community for years. As renovations and improve ments continue, the Skate AC team looks forward to using it as a pro totype for forthcoming local skate parks.

“We’re interested in providing safe skateparks and plazas all over this area,” shares Klotz who has a goal of building new skateparks in Ventnor, Egg Harbor Township, Somers Point, and other surrounding municipalities.

“Most sports require order, rules, teams, and officials,” explains Klotz. “With skateboarding, you just show up with your board and you’re in your happy place.”

The goal of the fundraiser is $15,000. Skate AC members are seeking the support of city officials, local businesses, and community contributors to help make this dream skatepark a reality.

This park is special to a lot of peo ple from the new kids on the block to those who have been skating back Sov for years. It’s more than a place for skaters to put down their wheels.

It’s where they come to find solace, an escape, and a healthy dose of se rotonin. Fundraising supporters left heartfelt messages of what back Sov Skatepark means to them.

“I donate because my son Lou Fermonte got involved in the effort to bring a skate park to Atlantic City back in 2012,” shares Jill Fermonte. “As a family we support the effort as much as possible. Today Lou has a 6 month old son, my grandson Sunny. That boy is already going to back Sov. We need to make sure there are lights and bathroom facilities and more there for all the new future skaters.”

“For me, back Sov is more than just a skatepark. I see it as our future,” explains Lou Fermonte. “It’s where I plan on teaching my son about life, resiliency, passion, community, and all the other positive life lessons skate boarding has taught me.”

Visit SkateAC.org for more infor mation about Skate AC along with videos of recent renovations, upcom ing events, and how you can donate.

Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet. Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5

Lou Fermonte and son, Sunny

Fred and Ethel Noyes: The Spark That Started Smithville

By Steffen Klenk

Many know Smithville for its old fashioned charm, colonial archi tecture, unique shops and restaurants. Situated in the heart of Galloway Township, this small com munity has been in existence since the revolutionary War, where the nearby town of Port republic was used as a base for privateers. but for many years, the area remained rural, until one couple changed it all.

In 1952, Fred and Ethel Noyes pur chased a building and seven acres of land once belonging to James & Issac Smith in 1819. The building, known as the Smithville Inn, was used as an ear ly stop along the stagecoach route. by the 1870s, the inn had grown in size and popularity, until it was aban doned in the early 1900s.

More than fifty years later, the building was eventually restored and turned into an antique shop before evolving into a 42-seat restaurant. Years later, several historic homes were brought back to life in the Town of Historic Smithville. With the help of the Noyes family, and a lot of hard work, the town was re

vitalized with dozens of shops and restaurants.

Fred Noyes, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1905. The son of a textile designer, Fred spent his young life chasing his love of art and painting. He attended the Pennsylvania Acad emy of Fine Arts, but didn’t want to adapt to the abstract style that domi nated the art world at that time. Fred served in the Army during World War II, where he nearly lost his leg while touring in France. He later returned home with the Purple Medal of Honor and, a short time later, met his future wife, Ethel.

Ethel Lingelback was raised locally on an old farm, and took pride in her Native American heritage. The Noyes’ family lived in Absecon and opened up their antique shop, but this was only their first venture. In 1952, Fred and Ethel purchased seven acres of land, including the stagecoach stop, for a total of $3,500. In the 1960s, the site around Smithville Inn was expanded, with old buildings rehabil itated and converted into stores and attractions. Today, Historic Smithville and the Village Greene boast over 50 specialty shops, including several prominent restaurants.

iddlesbrood Touring The atre Company will bring the Spirit of Christmas back to Historic Smithville, when they present their two-day outdoor “Dickens Fest” featuring an original, musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol”, Charles Dickens’ heartwarm ing, classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from greed to redemption that will surely raise your spirits and warm the cockles of your heart as you travel through time with the Ghosts of Christmas and witness the ultimate transformation of this miserly skinflint into a jolly Father Christmas, himself!

Performed on r iddlesbrood’s large, decorative, portable stage built in response to CoVID restrictions on indoor theater, along with several other outdoor stages set up on The Green, the family friendly shows will be on Saturday, November 26th, at 1 PM and 7 PM and Sunday, November 27th, at 1 PM, as part of their “Arts o n The Move Program” (Ao M). A va riety of unique vendors with holiday themed art, artistry and collectables will add to the weekend’s festivities.

Admission to “Dickens Fest” is free and parking is free.

“Ao M”” is a Performing Arts Pro gram that offers local children and teens an opportunity to participate in a community theater setting that culminates in performances of an original musical adaptation of an outdoor stage production to give stu dent’s the tools to reach new artistic heights, dream, and to discover and create within the magical world of the performing arts.

The cast of the shows will include actors from the riddlesbrood Touring Theatre Company troupe along with children of all ages from the commu nity, with a rousing Christmas carol sing-along playing a featured role in the production.

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Christmas at the Mansion, December 3rd, Somers Point

This holiday market located in the heart of Somers Point (at the Somers Mansion - 1000 Shore rd., Somers Point) will include artisan vendors, food trucks, live entertainment ( 3 bands including b eth Tinnon, Patti blee and the SSP's), childrens’ activi ties, a tree lighting, and Santa Claus! The event is free and takes place between 10am and 5pm.

Holiday Light Show on the Lake, Smithville

This classic show has been draw ing crowds for decades. Classic carols play over the loudspeaker and the water comes alive with dancing lights keeping rhythm to the music. The show takes place every day from 5:30pm to 8:30pm in the Historic Smithville Village.

Santa’s Tree Lighting, Cape May County Zoo, November 26th

The celebration will include a tree lighting, live holiday music by the John Walter Cape Community band,

an ice sculpture demonstra tion, the polar express train ride, bounce house castle & slide, character appearances, free treats for all and a visit by the jolly man himself in the red suit. The zoo will be open for guests on that day, but the event will take place from 2pm to 6pm.

Ocean City Christmas Parade, December

6pm

2nd

on Asbury Avenue

at

Starting on the 6th block on Asbury and continuing through the 12th, seasonal floats will wow crowds, and special Christmas characters will make appearances too. Make sure to arrive early and reserve a good spot along the sidewalk, and bundle up!

Vintner Wonderland, Renault Winery

Enjoy ice skating, fire pits, live mu sic, and wine tasting during this classy event at South Jersey’s premier vine yard. There’s so much to explore and lots of photo ops!

Nutcracker, Atlantic City Ballet

The international company will

perform the iconic Christmas show at multiple locations throughout Atlantic Count, including Stockton University campus, Holy Spirit High School and Caesars’ Hotel and Casi no. Witness the mystery and magic of Clara’s nutcracker who comes alive and shows her a world full of sugar plums and fairies.

Christmas Candlelight House Tours, Cape May

Since 1974, everyday folks can explore the grand Victo rian homes in historic Cape May, and travel back in time through stunning lights, de cor, and historic preservation. Hear Christmas carollers, walk inside cathedrals and hotels, and appreciate simpler times in New Jersey’s most charm ing town.

Free Horse and Carriage Rides, Ocean City

Thanks to the contributions from the city, families can ride old-fash ioned carriages and leisurely take in the sights of the season on the island. rides run from noon to 3pm on the

weekends, and start at 6th and Asbury starting on No vember 19th.

Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Twp.

Each evening at 5:00pm Santa Claus appears in his chimney, waves his magic wand, and lights the park with over one million lights for the holiday season!

Forever Forest, Egg Harbor City

This enchanted Christmas world is overflowing with holiday cheer. Write letters to Santa, enjoy festive live music, test toys with Santa’s elves, nosh on holiday snacks, and dunk the Grinch in the dunk time! The hallmark of Forever Forest is their trolley ride through beautiful lights and scenes, possibly even with snow!

Pottery and Mosaics Art Show, Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City

Looking for a handmade Christ mas gift? Stop by the o cean City Community Center and peruse doz ens of well-crafted mugs, pots, coast ers, and more. Mosaic artists shaped

the public with an open ing reception on Dec. 1 at 5:30 with performers and light refreshments.

Ocean City Holiday Train Show, Music Pier, Ocean City

Travel back in time through spectacular model train displays that

glass into dramatic images that will captivate you. Check it out starting on December 2nd until the end of the year.

Jingle Bell Bar, Ocean Casino, Atlantic City

At the 1927 lounge in ocean Casino, guests can enjoy themed entertainment, holiday cocktails and seasonal decor. Every adult can feel naughty or nice at this old-fashioned Christmas speakeasy venue.

Deck The Hall, Festival of Trees, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

In support of CASA of Atlantic, Cape May and Camden Counties, lo cal businesses and organizations may sponsor trees and decorate them to the max. The event is free and open to

channel America at its best. The show takes place from 10am to 4pm on December 3rd and 4th. Train acces sories and sets will also be available for purchase.

By Holly Martin

The holidays can be stressful, but dinner doesn't have to be! Let b F Mazzeo take some of those errands off your plate, and replace them with some of the best, fresh, and tasty prepared foods for dinner. “We do everything but the turkey,” says Jenna russo, baker and chef at bF Mazzeo. b efore clocking out for the day, russo added some last minute treats to the Mazzeo chill case. The assortment of baked goods like cookies, breads, and gift baskets seems to be never ending along with a delicious assort ment of pies with flavors like key lime, pumpkin, and my personal favorite ricotta with chocolate chips.

Appetizers, sides, and desserts can all be ordered and ready to go just in time for your holiday din ner. Quiches and stuffed breads are just a couple of items on the menu for your holiday spread. russo urges people to get their orders in early, but last minute orders can be placed with a min imum of 48 hours in advance. “If there’s something you want, but you don’t see it on the menu, just ask me,” says russo, “I might be able to take care of it.” All the food at bF Mazzeo’s is homemade from the best and fresh ingredi ents you see in store.

The store is in the hol iday spirit! As you walk up to the store you see the vast variety of pumpkins. Upon the doors opening, you are greeted with vi brant local produce from wall to wall. The smell of orange cranberry bread and apple cider donut cake fills the air.

Looking for a quick lunch? b F Mazzeo now has more seasonal favorites! Homemade chicken pot pie overflowing with fresh veggies, soups, stews, and chili are stocked and ready to go. Last minute lunches like Turkey Meatloaf are stocked in the cooling fridge next to the freshly squeezed juices and packed color ful salads. “I am still having fun and

creating new dishes seasonally,” says russo as she looks for the perfect apples to add to her next pie.

Holly Martin has been working in media since 2012. She has worked as a photographer and videographer throughout her high school and college career. Holly is a producer for WOND radio as well as fill in DJ for 103.7 WMGM Rocks. She loves being a concert photographer and working as event staff. She has worked as a reporter for Temple University’s Philadelphia Neighborhoods and submitted Editorials to the Philadelphia Inquirer. She has done multiple multimedia articles for Temple as well as Shore Local Newsmagazine. Her portfolio website is hollyamartin.com

Jenna Russo, baker and chef at BF Mazzeo

By David Setley

The vendange – the harvest of wine grapes – is complete throughout the northern hemisphere and produc tion has begun of the 2022 vintage.

According to Smithsonian Magazine

o nline, grape farmers in the beaujo lais region of France have celebrated the vendange since the 19th century in what is now known to many wine enthusiasts throughout the world as b eaujolais Nouveau Day. This wine holiday was originally celebrated in the beaujolais region on December 15. As interest in the day grew throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States, the date was moved to the third Thurs day in November.

beaujolais Nouveau Day is when the current vintage of rapidly produced beaujolais red wine is released to the world. Nearly 99% of wine produced

Beaujolais Nouveau

in beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape, according to Wine Folly. At one time, Gamay was grown throughout the b urgundy wine region but was ban ished to b eaujolais, the southernmost wine region in the b urgundy Ao C, in 1395 by the Duke of burgundy to make more space for Pi not Noir grapes. beaujolais Nouveau, produced with the Gamay grape, is crushed, fermented, and bottled in ap proximately two months. For context, most red wines are aged in wooden, steel, or concrete barrels for 6 to 30 months and then in bottles for similar periods of time. The short production time is what makes beaujolais Nou veau wine unique.

The Gamay grape is especially well-suited for nouveau wine. Gamay skins are thinner than other red grapes, producing a lower-tannin wine. Tannins are the result of red grape skins re maining in contact with the juice from crushed grapes during fermentation. b itter in flavor, tannins significantly add to the structure and complexity of red wine. Much like agrodolce (sweet and sour) combinations in cooking, the integration of competing flavors often make a wine more interesting, complex, and satisfying. As wines age in the barrel or in the bottle, tannins smooth out, becoming less harsh. because beaujolais Nouveau wine has a significantly reduced aging process, the thin-skinned, relatively low-tannin Gamay grape results in a more drink able and enjoyable wine than other higher-tannin red grapes may allow.

b eaujolais Nou veau wine tends to be an easy-drink ing, fruit-forward, sweet-scented wine. The aroma tends to have notes of pome granate, blackberries, bubblegum, and ba nana. Yes, you read that right: bubblegum and banana. Although not traditional wine aromas, Vinepair.com describes them as the result of the winemaking pro cess knowns as carbonic maceration, in which winemakers ferment grapes in a carbon-dioxide, anerobic environ ment. Flavors of beaujolais Nouveau are typically red berries - pomegran ates and cranberries - with a hint of soil-like earthiness. The wine tends to be dry, light-bodied, with a very light, easy mouthfeel. Nouveau wines should be consumed upon purchase, not cellared. Enjoy it with risotto dishes, salad, cheese platters, pork or poultry. In fact, consider it as a lovely pairing with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner!

r arely will b eaujolais Nouveau wine, with its rapid production pro cess, be your favorite wine of the year. regardless, it is a tradition worth shar ing with family and friends. Join me on or around November 17th, 2022 as we raise a glass and toast: “le beaujolais Nouveau est arrive’!” The b eaujolais Nouveau has arrived! 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.

The 'Retirement Honeymoon' is over

By Eric Reich

Why is retirement the entire focus of my business? It’s the same reason we hear about retirement on a nearly constant basis. The reason is be cause roughly 12,000 people a day are retiring and will continue to for the next 15 years. This is not only an enormous amount of people retiring, but those retirees will live far longer in retirement than any previous gen eration. Gone are the days of retiring at age 65 only to live until age 70. For some people, retirement could last more than 30% of their lives. A nice long retirement? It’s like your honeymoon phase. Days filled with travel, dining out, more free time to do whatever you want, or nothing at all if you prefer. For me, I envision lots of travel and perhaps surfing all over the world. What’s the problem with

that? Unfortunately, they call the honeymoon phase a phase for a rea son. The reason is because it doesn’t last long. We love the honeymoon phase. It’s filled with new and excit ing adventures. We tend to not see issues because we are so enamored with our new life. over time however, we start to realize everything isn’t quite perfect.

The end of the honeymoon phase comes with the realization for some retirees that they may have lost as much as they have gained in their new retirement life. A loss of identi ty is the biggest reason retirees are dissatisfied with retirement. If I’m not a insert your profession here, then who am I? With retirement comes a decrease in social inter actions as well as a loss of routine. The same freedom to do whatever you do or don’t want causes many retirees to crave a sense of routine. Afterall, you followed a routine for decades and to suddenly stop can be a difficult transition to make. A loss of identity from retirement can lead to higher levels of anxiety and depression.

So how do we deal with the end of the honeymoon phase? For starters, figuring out your new identity can

help. Ask yourself, what do I still want to accomplish in life? What am I most passionate about? You have built a lifetime of skills and knowledge that others desperately need to learn. Are there organizations you want to support? Volunteering your time can help set a new routine, create new social interactions and most impor tantly, give you a stronger sense of purpose.

Having a sense of purpose in re tirement has been shown to be one of the key determinants of happiness in retirement. A sense of purpose can make retirees feel “normal” again. This leads to extending the feelings of the honeymoon phase long into retirement, if not for the rest of your life. retirement is far more mental than it is financial. retirees have been shown to be able to adapt their lifestyle to most income levels, but happiness in retirement has been shown to be harder to achieve. Hav ing a plan before you retire can help increase the odds of satisfaction with your retirement itself, and as we say in the surfing community, just enjoy the ride.

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.

Homes

he holiday’s can be a dif icult and challenging time if you have lost a loved one.

In an effort to help those who have lost loved one’s during the year we offer the “Thoughts for the Holiday’s” booklet.

Whether we had the privilege of serving your family or not; we would like to offer this booklet to you free of charge.

Stop by any one of our locations to pick up or call and we will send you your free copy.

For puppies, everything changes after 12 weeks

By Heidi Clayton

The word “socialization” gets thrown around a great deal in the dog training world. b roadly applied, yes, your 6-month-old puppy is technically “socializing” when you take them out to meet other dogs, but in the scientific sense when applied to the raising of puppies, socialization ends at the end of week 12 of their life. This period of the first 12 weeks of life is called the critical socialization period.

Socialization only occurs in any puppy’s life from roughly 3 weeks of age and ends at 12 weeks of age. This means that every emotional response your puppy has to sounds, objects, people, and life in general is shaped in that 12 weeks and under.

After 12 weeks, the training pro cess is entirely different. The brain chemistry of a 12-week-old and un der puppy allows for easy shaping of emotional responses to such things as fear, excitement, human or dogon-dog interactions.

o nce the brain chemistry begins to change at the start of week 13, things that they are exposed to be come a novelty, and this is when fear of such things develops.

While you can still train a puppy over 13 weeks to do and like things, the process is different and there are varying degrees to your success.

Under 12 weeks of age, you have a much easier road to travel shaping emotional responses that result in stable attitudes, and behaviors.

Many of the rescue and puppy mill puppies that I train are timid, shy and struggle to adapt to their new lives. While I will not hold my breath that puppy mill operators would ever care about that, there is a program to help puppies develop emotional intel ligence, learn how to communicate with people, other dogs, and handle and recover from fear. Called Puppy Culture, the program is a series of protocols that can help you positively shape your puppy’s emotional stabil ity, responses to scary things, cope with fear, and offer behaviors in the presence of humans.

rescue groups that foster preg nant mothers or their litters could benefit from using this program and positively influence a puppy’s life before 8 weeks, when most are placed. They would do well to read up on the critical socialization period or checking out what Puppy Culture is all about.

Society expects more from dogs than ever before. If you bring a puppy home at 8 weeks, remem ber that true socialization skills can only be instilled prior to the end of

12 weeks. Learning how to socialize them correctly will help them adjust to the high expectations that we have placed on dogs.

You can learn more about Puppy Culture on their webpage or at Mad CapUniversity.com.

If you have a scared puppy and have questions on how to help them, feel free to email: heidi@fouronthe floor.dog.

Heidi Clayton started Four on the Floor Dog Training as a result of her own struggle to find a positive and reward-based dog trainer in South Jersey. She breeds, trains, and shows her own bull terriers under the Sora bully’s Kennel name.

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.

Making the most of open houses

put a halt to almost all in-person activities, the number of open houses dwindled. Sell ers didn’t want strangers in their homes and buyers didn't want to be in the company of too many people.

Real Estate Matters

By Elisa Jo Eagan

Before Covid-19, going to open houses was a favorite Sunday ac tivity for would-be homebuyers. However, as the pandemic

Although just 4 percent of buyers pur chase their homes through open houses, 41 percent still visit open houses as a step in the home buying process.

To overcome this hurdle, realtors be gan providing virtual open houses for their clients. Due to the lack of inventory during these past two years, it became pretty common for buyers to make offers and or purchase a home, sight unseen.

As of July 2022, nationally, the number of existing homes sold fell for the fifth consecu tive month. This slowdown has impacted the number of days a home stays on the market, and in some cases, has resulted in an increase of home availability in some areas and price ranges. Additionally, with this increase, we are experiencing a slowdown in bidding wars. Hence, buyers who had been sitting on the sidelines waiting for a shift for more favorable market conditions are now beginning to return to the home buying process, and we realtors are realizing the need to conduct open houses on a more frequent basis.

Buyer Tips

With busy schedules and juggling dayto-day activities, attending open houses may be more suitable for a buyer's lifestyle in the home buying process. The flexibility it offers to view a home at your own pace is often a desirable option. Going to open houses is also a great way for a homebuyer to obtain as much information as they can about a home in a more relaxed, stress-free environment.

Ask Pertinent Questions

Viewing a home on the internet is not the same as visiting it in person, so when you attend an open house, the agent at the open house will ask you to sign in and will ask you if you have a realtor to represent you as a buyer’s agent.

Since the agent running the open house is most likely the seller’s agent, come prepared with your questions to ask to obtain in-depth knowledge of the home. Questions like, When was the home built? What is the age and con dition of the roof? How old are the water heater and HVAC systems?

These items can be costly to replace, so knowing can help you assess possible future repairs and replacement costs. by asking the right questions, as a buyer you are able to obtain some necessary information about the home.

Take Notes

When visiting several open houses, make a list in order of their locations, to make your day go as efficiently as possible.

Keep a notebook handy to jot down infor mation about each property since it is easy to forget details when viewing multiple homes in a short span of time. Later, you can look over the information with the notes you have gathered to help you in your decision-making process.

Revisit the Home

This is an opportune time to revisit a home that you are on the fence about. It enables you to walk through the home at your leisure, weighing the pros and cons, and if you can envision yourself and your family living there.

Note: be sure to let the agent at the open house know that you have a realtor and or that you have previously toured the home with your agent.

Seller Tips

Having an open house will increase the overall foot traffic into your home and create more visibility. The more exposure your home receives, the more likely you will receive multiple offers, possibly driving the sales price higher.

Stage to Sell

Staging is a key part of the home selling process. Preparing your home for sale is essential to fetching the highest and best price.

The National Association of realtors (NAr) reports that 82 percent of buyers find it easier to envision themselves living in the home when it is staged. Things like re arranging furniture, placing floral bouquets around the home, decluttering and doing a deep clean will help accentuate your home's best features for potential buyers to see.

Elevate Curb Appeal

The appearance of your home's exterior is crucial to creating a positive first impres sion. In fact,

elevated curb appeal can increase the price of your home by an average of 7 per cent. be sure your lawn is well-manicured, bushes are trimmed, weeds are pulled, a fresh layer of mulch has been applied, and the entryway is free of dirt and grime.

Scheduling an Open House

You and your real estate agent should agree on the best days and times to have an open house.

If possible, ask your agent to schedule your first open house the week your home is listed, which typically generates a lot of traffic. Also, keep in mind, during fall and winter, when football and sports are in full swing, consider scheduling an open house on Saturday rather than on Sunday to max imize foot traffic.

Tip: Sellers should do all they can to be absent from the home during an open house. buyers are more apt to explore and ask the agent more pointed questions when sellers are not present.

Points to Remember:

1. buyers: Come prepared with questions to ask essential information about the home and take copious notes for later review to help in your decision-making process to discuss with your realtor.

2. Sellers: Staging and elevating the home's curb appeal are critical to creating a lasting positive first impression which has shown to increase the sales price by an average of 7 percent.

For all of your real estate questions and or real estate advice call/text Elisa at 609703-0432 or see TherealEstateGodmother. com.

For More Real Estate Questions, Information and Advice Contact Elisa Jo Eagan "The Real Estate Godmother" (609)703-0432 and Remember..."There's No Place Like Owning Your Own Home!"

Are you living in sunshine or stuck in the rain?

Je ff's Journal

By Jeff Whitaker

Iwas thinking recently about the similarities between our phys ical world and our mental and emotional worlds. Maybe this will help explain my train of thought. You wake up to a sunny, warm morn ing. The weather is just perfect and it sets you up for the best day. It’s true that no matter what is going on in your mind, most of the time if you wake up to sun as opposed to a rain, you’re more likely to be headed in a better direction.

John Maxwell calls it The Law of Environment which says that our growth thrives in conducive surroundings. That’s not only true physically but mentally and emotion ally as well. So let me ask you a cou ple of questions to consider. What nourishes you? What sustains you? remember I’m not talking about food in this case (although that’s essential too). I mean the people who surround you personally and professionally, the work environment where you find yourself and what steps you take to grow yourself to reach your po tential. The reality is that you can’t achieve all you want to become (the best version of you) by not examin ing where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Ask yourself this question. “Do I want to lead an average life? Am I content

remaining where I am right now? If we are honest, most of us would say no to both of those questions. We all have within us something that tells us there’s more, we can do better, we can reach higher. but here’s the thing, if we want to grow to our full potential, we have to examine the en vironment where we find ourselves and see if that is contributing to our growth or causing us to stagnate or regress.

As the end of 2022 approaches, take that self examination of your environment and ask if it’s conducive to growth. It may be and if that’s the case, great. but if you sense an inter nal discontent, then it may be time to make a shift. You and I also need to be strategic to maintain the tension between where we are and where we could be by continually resetting our intermediate-range goals for our selves. Here is a key, if the goals are too immediate you lose the tension when you achieve them quickly. If the goals are too lofty, they can seem to be too difficult and become discour aging.

Learn to find that perfect tension that keeps you grounded where you are but stretch you toward where you want to be. Until next time, let’s go out and make a difference.

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“Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. Half-times take 12 minutes. This is not a coincidence.” — Erma Bombeck

“Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants.” — Kevin James

“A new survey found that 80 percent of men claim they help cook Thanksgiving dinner. Which makes sense when you hear them consider saying ‘that smells good’ to be helping.” — Jimmy Fallon

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Turkey Facts You Didn’tProbably Know

The woman behind "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is also responsible for Thanksgiving's recognition as a national holiday.

In 1863, writer Sarah Josepha Hale convinced President Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She wrote countless articles and letters to persuade the president — and the rest is history!

▶ There are four places in the United States named Turkey. Louisiana's Turkey Creek is the most populated with 435 residents. There's also Tur key, Texas; Turkey, North Carolina; and Turkey Creek, Arizona. Also, two townships in Pennsylvania: Upper Turkeyfoot and Lower Turkeyfoot!

▶ black Friday is the busiest day of the year for plumbers, according to roto-rooter, the nation's largest plumbing service. Thanksgiving guests who "overwhelm the system" are accredited for this

▶ benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, not the eagle.

▶ Americans eat 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving.

▶ Neil Armstrong and buzz Aldrin's first meal in space after walking on the moon was foil packets with roasted turkey.

▶ The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was in 1924 to celebrate their status as “world’s largest store.” People today would be fa miliar with most of the first parade’s contents; there were floats featuring

nursery rhyme characters and Santa Claus in his sleigh. What might be out of place today were the ani mals—bears, elephants, camels, and monkeys loaned from the Central Park Zoo. Giant balloons debuted a few years later, in 1927, with Felix the Cat among the very first.

▶ Minnesota produces more turkeys than any other state in the U.S., raising close to 46 million in 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

▶ Have turkey questions? Call the hotline

The Turkey Talk-Line hotline from butterball answers all turkey questions each November and December. It be gan in 1981 with six home economists, who answered 11,000 calls about how to cook a turkey. Since then, the hotline has grown to answer 100,000 calls each season, and include Spanish-speakers, the first male Turkey Talk-Line expert, and email, texting, live chat, and social media platforms. Get more information and learn how to get in touch here.

▶ Americans really, really like turkey

The National Turkey Foundation estimates 88 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and about 46 million turkeys were consumed in 2016. Turkey has become a bigger part of the American diet recently, with consumption nearly doubling over the past 25 years.

Gobble, gobble

Male turkeys, also called toms, are the only ones that can gobble. The females, or hens, make clucking or clicking

On the road again

The American Automobile Associa tion (AAA) predicts 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, up 1.5% from 2021. This year is also projected to be the third-bus iest Thanksgiving travel season since AAA started tracking it in 2000, eclipsed only by 2005 and 2019, respectively.

AAA defines the Thanksgiving holiday travel period as the five-day period from Wednesday, November 23 to Sunday, November 27.

The Presidential pardon

The first official presidential pardon of a turkey occurred much more recently than most might think: President George H.W. bush did it in 1989, and it’s since become an annual tradition. Stories of unofficial pardons, however, go fur ther back - perhaps even to President Lincoln’s days, when he supposedly pardoned a turkey after an impassioned plea from his son Tad for the bird’s right to live.

Compiled by Lindsay Kirkland