SHORE LOCAL | Mainland | February 2, 2023

Eagles Fever Fl ying High

Valentines Day & February Events

A Deeper Dive into Whales & Wind

Wing Lovers Flock to AC Wing Fest

Remembering David Spatz & Jerry Blavat

For the love of the game

forward to bringing home the Vince Lombardi trophy again this year.

From the Editor

It is a great season to be an Eagles fan! In fact, it’s an allaround great year to be a Philly sports fan. It feels like we just got done celebrating the Phillies’ trip to the World Series, and now we get to do it all over again as the Eagles head to the Super Bowl!

With South Jersey’s favorite team headlining one of the most-watched sporting events of the year, it feels like the energy in our community has been collectively elevated. There is a buzz of excitement in the air as E.A.G.L.E.S. chants ring in our ears, and shades of green flood the streets.

Fist bumps and high fives are abundant as Eagles fans prepare for the big day. The other day in Boscov’s, I found myself exchanging excited smiles as I crossed paths with another Eagles fan wearing his Philadelphia swag. The energy is high as we look

Issue 223

Yes, “we.” There is a reason they call us “the 12th man.” As fans, we are just as much a part of the game as the 11 players on the field. From draping ourselves head-to-toe in sports apparel to tailgating for hours in the stadium parking lot before the game, Americans love to love football.

I had the opportunity to attend an Eagles game earlier in the season, and what an incredible experience that was! Feeling the excitement from the fans was electrifying as hot dogs were grilled, music played, and drinks were poured. It didn’t matter who you came with; as long as you were wearing green, you belonged. That particular game was a close one, but in true Eagles fashion, we came out on top with the win. The enormity of it all was truly spectacular.

Why do we Americans love football so much? There was a commercial that played during the AFC and NFC championship games that told the story of young quarterbacks and how we are all big kids enjoying a

Established 2016

“child’s game.” Football is a fun environment to be a part of that keeps the inner child alive in all of us. The camaraderie, the food, the passion, the excitement - it’s all part of being an American Football fan, and we love every bit of it.

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, we wish all of you a wonderful “unofficial” National holiday. We hope that you have the opportunity to down some wings, enjoy the halftime performance, and watch the Birds bring the trophy back to Philly.

In this edition of Shore Local Newsmagazine, we are excited to share stories about the Eagles, Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and

so much more. This edition is full of feel-good stories about local people doing amazing things. Check out the story about Chef Andre Murphy and how PBS caught wind of his nonprofit’s commitment to feeding the community. Mays Landing native Johnny Berchtold shared some thoughts about his experience filming the Netflix movie Dog Gone alongside actor Rob Lowe. We also reached out to community leaders and Orstead for the latest on the offshore wind project. Unanswered questions still loom about the recent whale deaths, and local politicians are expressing their concerns. Don’t miss a 'Deep Dive Into the World of Whales' on page 6 to learn some interesting whale facts and migration patterns.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Shore Local. Please support our advertisers that make this publication possible.

One last note before you go: E.A.G.L.E.S. GO EAGLES!

Peace & Love, Cindy

(609) 788-4812

Publisher– Bob Fertsch (609) 334-1691 shorelocalads@gmail.com

Executive Editor - Cindy Christy Fertsch (609) 705-5323 shorelocalcindy@gmail.com

Copy Editors - James FitzPatrick, Holly Fertsch

Staff Writer - Sarah Fertsch Digital Marketing Director - Marc Berman Web Designer - Holly Martin

Contributors –Charles Eberson, Dina Guzzardo, Scott Cronick, Dan Skeldon, Tammy Thornton, Rich Baehrle, Steffen Klenk, Nancy Adler, Donald B. Kravitz, Joe Massaglia, Fred Miller, Krystle J. Bailey, Brian Cahill, Dave Weinberg, Doug Deutsch, Jeff Whitaker, Elisa Jo Eagan, Michael Bray, Heidi Clayton, Eric Reich

Cover photo of Bald Eagle by Sean McGarrity

staff and

Cover photo of Carter Doorly by Dawn Doorly.

A deep dive into the fascinating world of whales

cles on their heads and large pectoral fins. The average lifespan of a humpback whale can be anywhere from 45 to 50 years.

By Steffen Klenk

Whales are majestic creatures. The fact that several have been washing up along our coast begs the question, “Why? And what else is there to learn about our marine mammal neighbors?”

Their ancestry can be traced back millions of years to a lineage that originates on land, coming into existence over 50 million years ago! Long before there were dinosaurs, there were whales.

Science has shown that their ancestors were ancient artiodactyla –or four-legged hoofed land mammals.

One of the most common species you will find off our coast is the humpback whale. The average adult ranges in length from 46 to 56 feet and weighs up to 44 tons.

They have a distinctive body shape, with knobs known as tuber-

The average humpback whale travels 5,000 miles each year, swimming from Nova Scotia and Maine all the way to the Dominican Republic between seasons.

The colder waters are preferred for mating and calving in the north, and in the Caribbean, whales enjoy a delicious bounty of krill (shrimp-like crustaceans) and small fish. All they have to do is open their mouths, and they’ll ingest hundreds of pounds of seafood!

Here is an interesting fact: Most humpback whales won’t eat for about half the year.

Their peak feeding season occurs during migration when they often feed on small fish and microscopic organisms. When they are off the New Jersey coast, they feed on a species of fish known as Atlantic menhaden, a small, oily baitfish 6 to 8 inches in length. The whales often use their

own bubbles as a distraction to feed on their prey.

According to Melissa Laurino, research director at the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, not all of them will make that long, annual trek. “A lot of humpback whales that stay in the Mid-Atlantic year round could possibly be some sub-adult (not fully grown) whales,” Laurino said.

Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center is one of several tour boat operators in the region that are devoted not only to eco-tourism, but also whale conservation efforts. Laurino said they collect vital data to learn more about the species and any changes in habit.

“We collect anything from weather and sea conditions to behavior data, group characteristics and a lot of water parameters like water temperature, depth and tidal height,” she said.

There has been a steady increase in whale sightings since 2014. There has also been a diversity of whale species sighted in recent excursions including finback whales.

The second-largest whale species on our planet, an adult finback can weigh up to 100,000 pounds. The endangered North Atlantic right whale has also made appearances. These baleens can live up to 70 years in optimal conditions.

Whale conservation efforts continue to be a topic of conversation, and not just throughout the region. NOAA Fisheries has noticed a rise in the number of humpback mortalities known as Unusual Mortality Events (UME).

Since 2016, there have been 178 fatalities along the East Coast, 40 percent of which showed evidence of human interaction, meaning either a ship strike or entanglement in nets.

Locally, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine has observed an average of seven whale strandings per year between 2002 to present day. These strandings included live humpbacks stranded

on sandbars or injured just offshore. Lifetime statistics can be found at http://mmsc.org/ stranding-statistics.

All marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and seals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, passed by Congress in 1972, and several whale species, such as the bowhead and blue whale, are listed as endangered.

According to NOAA, some of the humpback’s biggest threats include inadvertent vessel or ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and vessel-based harassment. Climate change can also impact the humpback species, though its extent is unknown.

Humpback whales are a vital part of the ocean and the communities that they benefit from. All marine mammals off our coast are migratory and travel great distances. Laurino stresses the importance of collecting data while collaborating with other research organizations to better understand these creatures.

“Our environment is constantly changing, and our marine mammals are going to have to adapt to any changes that could be caused by us humans,” Laurino said.

In the event you should spot a sick, injured, entangled, or deceased sea creature or marine mammal, it is recommended that you stay at a distance of at least 150 feet. Whales, dolphins, sea turtles and seals are protected by state and federal law.

Report your sighting to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center by calling 609-266-0538. You can also connect on Facebook.

Steffen Klenk is a photographer and multimedia journalist who enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life. You may contact Steffen at shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com.

Is it time to raise the white flag on winter for South Jersey snow lovers?

at the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) in Egg Harbor Township, the most ever. But it was the exception, not the rule, and still the only winter on record with more than 50 inches of snow.

here?” “Will it be enough to cancel school on Monday?”

My answers to those questions, as a disheartened snow lover myself:

Weather

By Dan Skeldon

For lovers of those six-sided crystals that usually fall, occasionally fast and furiously, during the winter, it’s been a difficult season so far. It’s the winter of the snow lover’s discontent, not only here in South Jersey but the entire Interstate 95 corridor from Washington to Philadelphia to New York and even Boston.

Not that the South Jersey shore is a “snowbelt” most winters. Sure, we have our moments, like last January, with two blizzards in one month totaling almost three feet of snow. Or then there was the winter of 2009-2010, the snowiest on record, when almost five feet of snow buried the region. Specifically, 58.1 inches of snow was measured for that snowbound winter

In fact, we’re three times more likely to get a winter with less than one inch of snow. That happened back in the winter of 1972-73, our least snowy on record, with just a paltry 0.4 inches of snow measured for the season. More recently, the winter of 2019-20 came very close to stealing that title, with just 0.5 inches of total snow. Rounding out the top three least snowy winters was the barren winter of 1994-95, with just 0.8 inches of snow that snow-less season.

For the record, we’ve seen just a “trace” of snow so far this winter. That came with those “surprise” snowflakes on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 14. A trace is a term that recognizes it finally did snow, but it wasn’t enough to measure. Instead, it was just those “conversational” snowflakes, the type that finally got us talking. “Hey, do you believe it’s actually snowing?” “Is winter finally

1) I didn’t believe it at first since the flakes weren’t forecast. But as it turns out, they were just a tease.

2) No, winter still really isn’t here. If you take out those few days of bitter cold around Christmas and a day or two of cold the first weekend of February, it really hasn’t been much of a winter at all. That’s not changing anytime soon.

3) Unless Monday is a holiday and school is closed anyway, I don’t see any snow days anytime soon. Sorry kids!

So should we raise the white flag? On one hand, we’re just starting the month of February. And climatologically speaking, late January to mid-February is traditionally one of the snowier times of the winter, and a stretch that has produced some monster snowstorms for the shore. And let’s not forget there have been some memorable March monsters over the last decade or so as well. So the optimist would say that there’s still plenty of time left.

But then there’s the other hand, the one against any snow in our immediate future or even farther down the road. And before looking ahead, the pessimist will even look back at December 2022, the month where the stars were aligned and the big picture pattern was primed and a very favorable one to produce blockbuster winter storms. I would have laid down a $100 bet at the Ocean Casino that we would have a big storm given the pattern, if they took weather bets of course. And despite one of the more favorable patterns in recent memory, all we got to show for it was a few days of “wasted” cold and multiple rounds of rain.

Then there was our dominant January pattern, the one sending a parade of Pacific storms into the West Coast, absolutely pummeling California, and in turn flooding the rest of the Lower 48 with mild Pacific air. A lack of snow usually begins with lack of cold, and we certainly were lacking in cold during January, which looks to go down as the second warmest January on record, behind only January 1950. Highs in the 50s, 60s, and even 70-degree record warmth have been more common than below freezing temperatures, which we’ve seen only a handful of nights. And January thunderstorms have been more common than steady snow, another testament to how unwintry this winter has been.

So that atmospheric river that battered the West Coast finally “ran out of water” and gave the West a breather in late January. And yes, we are opening February with a brief but intense shot of arctic air just after Groundhog Day. But now it looks like something called “the southeast ridge”, a large high pressure off the Southeast Coast of the United States, akin to the “Bermuda High” in the summer, will flex its muscle through much of February. If that is indeed the case, then yet another long stretch of warmer than average temperatures will erase the brief shot of cold to open the month, and keep snow chances either minimal or zero for the foreseeable future.

That means South Jersey snow lovers will have to pin their hopes on late February or March, and hope for a more sizable and more sustainable pattern change. Now it only takes one big storm to feed a snow lover’s fix and erase a season long snow deficit. But it also takes a “threading of the needle” for all the storm ingredients to come together just right, especially with the stars so aligned against snow this year.

So sorry snow lovers! Let’s say that I have the white flag strung up on the flagpole and my hands on the ropes ready to hoist it on up. I haven’t started pulling yet, but it may not be long now before that flag is flying. Or maybe we’ll get a first day of spring snowstorm this year, when everyone is ready for spring and even snow lovers aren’t looking to be buried.

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.

Orsted acquires Ocean Wind 1, sparking community concerns

and environmental science.

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Orsted has announced a full buyout of all shares of Ocean WInd 1, the wind farm being built off the coast of South Jersey.

The Danish company released a statement on Jan. 18 announcing its acquisition of the remaining 25 percent ownership stake held by PSEG. Ocean Wind 1, which is expected to power more than 500,000 homes in New Jersey, is the first of three offshore wind farms planned off the Jersey Shore. No dollar amount has been announced for the purchase of the PSEG share.

A press release from Orsted included a statement by PSEG Senior Vice President and CEO Lathrop Craig.

“It has become clear that it is best for the project for PSEG to step aside and allow for a better positioned tax investor to join the project,” Craig said, citing the need to create an optimized tax structure.

“While this was a difficult decision, it was driven by the best interests of the project and New Jersey’s offshore wind goals. PSEG will continue to actively support offshore wind in New Jersey and the region.”

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023, pending all regulatory approvals.

The initial delivery of power from Ocean Wind 1 is scheduled for the end of 2024, and full commissioning is expected in 2025, according to Orsted.

In addition to the wind farms, Orsted is building an operations facility in Atlantic City, and a monopile manufacturing operation in Paulsboro, Gloucester County. The company’s goal is to create a clean-energy industry in South Jersey, working with local institutions, including Stockton University, Rowan University, Rutgers University and Atlantic Cape Community College to train potential employees in marine construction

The announcement comes after a period when eight whales, mostly humpbacks, have beached along the New Jersey and New York coasts. Everyday citizens and government representatives have made claims connecting Orsted’s wind farm development to the marine mammal tragedies.

Shore Local News spoke with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, Republican representing Atlantic and Cape May counties.

“This buyout is just writing on the wall,” said Van Drew. “At the end of the day, this project is a business deal and they (Orsted) are located on the other side of the world.

“They do not have to deal with the negative effects these wind farms cause, while still reaping the financial rewards from our government. There is no personal connection between them and the communities along the shore, and that relationship will not be sustainable,” he said.

Dennis Levinson, the county executive for Atlantic County, said he hopes Orsted will work with the public to prove its commitment to safety and transparency.

“They need to do significant research and show the people that these wind farms will help, and right now. There are a lot of questions and fear,” the Republican said.

Steve Sweeney, former state Senate president who is expected to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025, said the offshore wind developments will benefit South Jersey and the world as a whole.

“Offshore wind will be a boon to New Jersey’s economy, with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities estimating that Atlantic Shores will create $1.9 billion in economic activity and 3,100 jobs, and Ocean Wind II will

generate $1.7 billion for the state’s economy and 3,700 jobs,” he wrote in a NJ Advantage Media an opinion piece titled, “New Jersey’s mushrooming offshore wind industry is a boon for jobs and the climate.”

Ocean City is the latest shore town to call for a halt in wind farm research and development. Mayor Jay Gillian, in partnership with the City Council, has demanded an immediate halt and full investigation into the whale deaths and any role Orsted may have in them.

In addition to city governments, locals have expressed their concerns through art and protest. John Gowdy, a sand sculptor from Ventnor, drew a humpback whale in the sand with the word “Why?” written below.

The artist, along with a group of protestors, held up signs reading “Stop the offshore wind project” and “Stop turbine madness.”

The rally took place on Jan. 21 on the beach by the Ventnor Fishing Pier, in collaboration with Protect Our Coast NJ, an environmental group fighting for ocean wellness in opposition to the offshore wind farms.

Jay Samson, a 36-year-old from Somers Point, has taken to social media to share his concerns regarding the Orsted buyout and the potential connection with the whale deaths.

“The offshore wind will destroy our ecosystem and we will have drastic economic hardships because of it,” Samson said.

The seven members along with Gillian met on Jan. 19 and resolved to “call for an immediate suspension of all offshore wind development activity until a comprehensive, thorough investigation is held by federal and state agencies that confidently concludes these activities are not a contributing factor to recent whale deaths.”

Ventnor and Brigantine have also passed resolutions to pause wind development and fully investigate the marine mammal connection, if found. In a city resolution, Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf said:

“We are certainly concerned with anything that is causing the death or injuries of marine and other wildlife. We do not necessarily have an opinion on what is causing the deaths of the whales. We are not experts in that field, but we want those answers to be provided by the appropriate agency or consultants.”

Samson told Shore Local News he believes that this South Jersey controversy should be a top-of-the ticket issue for the 2024 presidential election.

“People with resources, where are you?,” asked Samson. “When the warm weather comes around, I think more marine mammals are going to be heavily impacted in a joint slaughter.”

Orsted declined to comment on its ecosystem research, wind farm development, and recent acquisition of the PSEG shares of Ocean Wind 1.

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

Defend Brigantine Beach, Protect Our Coast NJ and concerned locals gathered at the Seawall in Brigantine on January 24 to make their voices heard about the wind turbines being built off our coast and the negative impact they could have. Photo by Marc Berman

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, February 2nd

Doug Jennings 6-9pm

Bocca

7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

The Feel Good Music Band 6:30-

9:30pm. Josie Kelly’s Public House

908 Shore Rd. Somers Point

Dane Anthony 8pm-12am

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

DJ Luap 8pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Friday, February 3rd

Jim Fisher 5:30pm

Tuckahoe Inn

1 Harbor Rd. Beesley’s Point

Matt Adams Trio 6-10pm Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Fat Mezz 7pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Black Car Gina Trio 7:30pm Nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Jon Spencer & The HITmakers w/

The Bobby Lees 8pm

Anchor Rock Club

247 S. New York Ave. Atlantic City

The Eddie Morgan Trio 8:30pm

Rhythm & Spirits

129 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Crespo 10pm

The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s

777 Harrah’s Blvd. Atlantic City

Split Decision 10pm

The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Gypsy Wisdom 11pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Saturday, February 4th

JEM & The Vibe 12-4pm

Renault Winery

72 N. Bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

Amanda & Teddy 5-9pm

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

DJ Redline 5-9pm

The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Adam Holcombe Trio 6pm

Villain & Saint at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Band of Make Believe 7pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Philly Keys 7-11pm. Renault Winery

72 N. Bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

Engelbert Humperdinck 8pm Harrah’s Resort

777 Harrah’s Blvd. Atlantic City

Sensamotion w/ Kings and Comrades 8pm. Anchor Rock Club

247 S. New York Ave. Atlantic City

Shaun LaBoy 8-11pm

Tennessee Avenue

Beer Hall

133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Jax with DJ Camilo

10pm

The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s 777 Harrah’s Blvd. Atlantic City

The Exceptions 10pm

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

The Rockets 10pm

The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City Night Anthem 11pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Sunday, February 5th

John King 12-4pm

Renault Winery

72 N. Bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

Monday, February 6th

Red 7-11pm

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Tuesday, February 7th

Golden Oldies with DJ Special K 5-9pm

Josie Kelly’s Public House

908 Shore Rd. Somers Point

Patty & Bugzy 8pm-12am

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Wednesday, February 8th

Danny Eyer 5:30pm Tuckahoe Inn

1 Harbor Rd. Beesley’s Point

Tom Angello’s All Star Jazz Series

w/ Behn Billece, Brian Betz & Lee Smith 7-8:30pm

Josie Kelly’s Public House

908 Shore Rd. Somers Point

Jazz by the Bob Sterling Band 7-10pm Bocca 7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

Thursday, February 9th

DJ Johnny B 8pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Friday, February 10th

Ann Michal Duo 6-10pm

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

The Counterfeiters 7pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

BMW 7:30pm

Villain & Saint at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Motley Crue & Def Leppard 8pm

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Rage Against the 90s 8pm

Anchor Rock Club

247 S. New York Ave. Atlantic City

Philly Keys Dueling Pianos 8pm12am. Renault Winery

72 N. Bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

Pulse 10pm

The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Kristen & The Noise 11pm Nola’s Bar at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Saturday, February 11th

FM Band 12-4pm

Renault Winery

72 N. Bremen Ave. Egg Harbor City

DJ Sepper 5-9pm

The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Originaire 5-9pm

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

John McNutt Trio 6pm

Villain & Saint at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

The Rockets 7pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Def Leppard & Motley Crue 8pm Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Christian Glomb 8-11pm

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

60’s British Invasion 8:30pm

Caroline’s By the Bay 450 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Valentine’s Emo Night with David Earl and Karle Gwen 9pm Anchor Rock Club

247 S. New York Ave. Atlantic City

Lost in Paris 10pm

The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Bonnie X Clyde 10pm

The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s 777 Harrah’s Blvd. Atlantic City

Sunday, February 12th

DJ Pat Conlon 7pm

Nola’s Bar at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City Events subject to change.

Photo credit: Marc Berman

By Krystle J Bailey

Local actor makes it on Netflix

Stars in movie with Rob Lowe

incredible search with his parents to find him and give him life-saving medication.”

“When his beloved dog goes missing, a young man embarks on an

That young man featured in the new Netflix family film, Dog Gone, is played by Mays Landing’s own Johnny Berchtold. The 28-year-old Atlantic County native discovered his love of acting at a young age when he enrolled in the Drama Club at George L. Hess Elementary School.

His early love of horror films lit a fire for creativity in his mind and

heart, and he hasn’t looked back since. While many children his age would move on to the next movie, Johnny would find himself lost in the behind-the-scenes features, inspired by the direction and talent that went into production.

From Drama Club at Mays Landing public schools to the big screen, Berchtold is living out his wildest dreams while pursuing his acting career in Los Angeles. After graduating from Oakrest High School, Berchtold pursued an education at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. On a whim, he entered a contest that would dramatically change his life’s trajectory.

FRIDAY - FEB 3

Stay Tuned Band 8pm-12 SATURDAY - FEB 4

Atley Moon Duo 4pm-8 DJ Josh 9pm-12 SUNDAY - FEB 5 Danny Eyer Band 3pm-7 FRIDAY - FEB 10

The ABC Make Me A Star contest was a digital casting opportunity that would ultimately become the catalyst for his acting career. After winning the contest, he was flown out to Los Angeles, where he spent what he describes as “the craziest four days of his life.” He was welcomed into studios and introduced to executives, actors, and directors in Hollywood.

Upon returning to Philadelphia, he asked his now fiance to take a leap of faith with him. The couple moved to LA, and Berchtold has been building his acting portfolio ever since. Starring in a few films set to be released this year, his big debut came with the release of Dog Gone, a family film produced by Netflix in which Berchtold plays the son of actor Rob Lowe.

“I always wanted to play in a movie like this,” shares Berchtold. “I wanted to work with a dog and play a wholesome character. It felt right from the beginning.”

After virtual auditions during the Covid-19 pandemic and a Zoom meeting with the film’s director, Stephen Herek, Berchtold was excited to learn that not only was he cast for the role, but Rob Lowe would be playing his father.

“Shooting the movie was the time of my life. It was the biggest movie I had been in up until that point,” shares the young actor about his Netflix experience. “Rob Lowe invited me to his house for dinner before Netflix flew me out to Atlanta a week before filming just so I could become best friends with the dog, which was magical.”

Before the release of Dog Gone,

Berchtold had spent time in New York playing in a much heavier Off-Broadway play, Camp Seigfried. He explains that switching gears from the heaviness of a holocaust-themed play to the light-hearted family film was a shock to the system. However, the outpouring of love and support from his local friends and family, including his two grade school drama teachers, Gay Laubert and Kimberly Tunney, assured Berchtold that he was on the right path in life.

Since the movie, Berchtold tells us that life has been a little strange.

“No one really tells you what it’s going to be like or how to prepare for so many people actually watching the movie,” he explains.

As he relishes in the buzz that is being created by Dog Gone, Johnny Berchtold is looking forward to the future. He is already back in audition mode and excited about what his acting career has in store. He continues to hold onto his fondness for horror films and is writing a few of his own scripts that we hope to see on the big screen one day. There is much more coming from Johnny this year with the upcoming release of Tiny Beautiful Things, which will be streaming on Hulu, and several other projects in the pipeline.

“I just want to keep busy with the work,” shares Johnny Berchtold. “I enjoy it so much. It truly fulfills me.”

Keep up with Johnny’s journey on Instagram @JohnnyBerchtold and TikTok @Johnny_Berchtold.

Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.

Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5

Mays Landing native Johnny Berchtold filming the Netflix movie Dog Gone alongside actor Rob Lowe.

By James FitzPatrick Contributing Writer

Photo

Events and Happenings

Multi-Day Events

ARTeriors Atlantic City

▶January 19th – February 19th

2022 Baltic Ave. Atlantic City

Experience ARTeriors Baltic Avenue for a limited time, only in Atlantic City. Open Thursday-Sunday from 9am-5pm. Admission is free and donations are always welcome. Visits are also available by appointment; contact Kate O’Malley at kate@ acartsfoundation.org. Visit atlanticcityartsfoundation.org for more information.

Holy Trinity Greek Winter Feast

▶Friday, February 3rd 5-10pm, Saturday, February 4th 12-11pm, Sunday, February 5th 11:30am-8pm

7004 Ridge Ave. Egg Harbor Township

Holy Trinity’s popular Winter Feast is returning in-person. Enjoy delicious Greek food you crave and prepared with the love of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in EHT. Plus, homemade Greek pastries, traditional Greek dance performances on Saturday evening at 6:45pm, and JTK Entertainment will provide dance music at the Taverna evening on Saturday from 7-11pm. Dine-in and take-out available.

Michael Pedicin Jazz Concert Series

▶Sundays at 2pm

Ocean City Library 1735 Simpson Ave. Join Ocean City Library for a special concert series with the Michael Pedicin Quartet. Each weekly featured artist will ex-

hibit their creative and artists skills as they improvise within their designated art form, while Michael and his very select group of musicians play their music. Sunday Feb. 5 features vocalist Paul Jost, and Sunday, Feb. 12 will include modern interpretative dancer Stacy Schweigart. The event is free to attend. For more information, visit oceancitylibrary.org.

Saturday, February 4th

Atlantic City Wing Fest

▶1-4pm

Golden Nugget Atlantic City 600 Huron Ave.

If you love craft beer and live music, you will love Atlantic City Wing Fest. Between 15 and 20 South Jersey spots known for their amazing wings will compete for best wing bragging rights. The all-you-can-eat wing festival will allow you to go around to all the wing places until you decide, by vote, which wing is your favorite. The event will be held in the Grand Ballroom, with live music provided by the Anthony Krizan Band, formerly of the Spin Doctors. Tickets are sold out. More information is available at eventbrite.com/e/atlantic-city-wingfest-471219810137.

Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off

Fundraiser

▶6-8pm

Atlantic Christian School 391 Zion Rd.

Egg Harbor Township

Bowls of Hope is a community-building soup cook-off event now in its 10th year as a benefit fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Christian School and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Attendees will sample delicious soups from local restaurants and chefs and vote for your favorites. There will also be a Student Talent Show held during the evening. Bring a can of soup for our food drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Tickets and additional information available at acseht.org/ bowlsofhope/

Sunday, February 5th

Red Cross Blood Drive in Ocean City

▶9am-2pm

Howard S. Stainton Senior Center 1735 Simpson Ave. Ocean City

The American Red Cross seeks blood donors for a Blood Drive at the Ocean City Community Center. Donors are asked to call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “Ocean City” to schedule an appointment. All donors in February receive a $10 gift card by email from Amazon and a chance to win a Florida trip.

Palntine’s Day Paint Party

▶3-6pm

Your CBD Store 790 White Horse Pike, Absecon

Join the Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance for an afternoon of paints, paws, beverages and light fare. All ages and levels are welcome. Paint your favorite photo of your pet, led by the very talented Jen Burke. RSVP by February 3rd by emailing abseconarts@ gmail.com. For more information, visit www. abseconarts.com.

Tuesday, February 7th Village Film Society

▶10:30am

A discussion about the Emmy-nominated documentary, Pray Away. The documentary follows a survivor who seeks healing and acceptance from over a decade of trauma. The film can be viewed on Netflix. RSVP by Feb. 2 by emailing Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@ jfsatlantic.org.

Green Thumb Garden Club – For the Birds

▶7pm

Somers Point Senior Center 22-98 S. Ambler Rd.

Bill Wright will present his colorful program on “South Jersey Backyard & Shore Birds”. A lifelong bird and nature enthusiast participating in the “Count the Birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count”, Bill is also a former AP Environmental science teacher at ACHS. All are welcome. For more information, contact Heidi at (609) 703-9170.

Wednesday, February 8th

Tom Angello’s All-Star Jazz Series

▶7pm

Gregory’s 900 Shore Rd. Somers Point

Join the South Jersey Jazz Society for an evening of live jazz music at Gregory’s, featuring Tom Angello on the drums, Behn Gillece on vibraphone, Brian Betz on guitar, and Lee Smith on the bass. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Call (609) 927-6665 to reserve your table. More information is available at www. southjerseyjazz.org.

Thursday, February 9th

How to Harness the Power of the Digital Age

▶10:30am

Katz JCC Boardroom 501 N. Jerome Ave. Margate

From online healthcare visits to banking, social and educational programs to reading the grandkids bedtime stories on Zoom, a whole new world of connectivity evolved over the years. Learn helpful tips on harnessing the power of your cell phone, iPad, and computer to make technology easier for you. Attend in-person at Katz JCC or

includes door prizes, buffet, and free mug with $1 beverage refills. Proceeds support local students and selected charities.

Monday, February 13th

Mindful Ways Workshops

▶1-3pm

Easy ways to practice meditation and experience mindfulness. Now is the perfect time to learn how to grow your emotional resilience, feel more centered, engage your inner awareness and peace of mind, and shift out limiting beliefs. To register or for more information, visit oceancitylibrary.org.

Tuesday, February 14th

Comfort Cooking Healthy & Delicious: Valentine’s Day with a Twist

▶10:30am

Join Bernadette Getzler, healthy eating and gardening guru, as she takes you on a food journey using farm fresh ingredients. You’ll learn about cooking for Valentine’s Day in new and creative ways by taking existing ingredients and substituting healthier options. RSVP by Feb. 10 by emailing Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@jfsatlantic.org.

Ice Skating Rink

Friday, February 24th

Atlantic City Ballet: Carmina Burana

▶5-9pm

Circus Maximus Theater

Carmina Burana is based upon a manuscript dating back to the 11th century and discovered by a Bavarian librarian in 1803. Carl Orff set the poems to music in 1936, and Nicolo Fonte prepared the score. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and Caesars box office. Visit acballet.org for tickets and information.

Saturday, February 25th

Remembering Jamie Italian Night Dinner

▶4-8pm

Egg Harbor Township Elks 1815

Somers Point Mays Landing Rd.

Save the Date as the Remembering Jamie Foundation hosts their 23rd annual Italian Night dinner. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children and includes a buffet dinner, raffle prizes, and much more. For additional information, contact Jim Crescenzo at jcrescenzo@verizon.net, call 609-369-2965, or visit rememberingjamie.org.

Fundraisers

Have a Heart for Veterans

▶Now – February 9th

United Methodist Communities is asking for the public’s support by donat-

ing items for gift bags to by given to The Memorial Veterans Home in Vineland, a 300 bed facility, and the Meadowview Veterans unit in Northfield consisting of 25 beds. Items can include: wrapped valentine heart candy boxes and bagged candy that is sealed, individual packs of crackers, cookies, tastykakes, trail mix, and pretzels; any items that are red, such as socks, gloves, tee shirts, hats, sweatshirts, personal items (ie: shaving cream, deodorant, lotions, mouthwash), adult coloring books and colored pencils, and a gift card from any restaurant (ie: Wawa, Dunkin, etc.). If you are interested in participating, contact Kathy Speer at 609-399-6702, or you can drop off donations to Wesley by the Bay Apts. or The Shores Assisted Living Community in Ocean City.

JFS ‘Soup’er Bowl Collection Drive

▶Now – February 17th

JFS Atlantic 607 N. Jerome Ave. Margate

Annual ‘Soup’er Bowl, to help combat hunger and collect hundreds of canned soups to ensure community members have a hot and hearty meal during the cold winter months. Cans with pop-tops are appreciated. Donations will be accepted now through Feb. 17 at JFS in Margate, Mon. Tue. And Wed. from 8am to 8pm and Thu. And Fri. from 8am-5pm. For more information about the JFS Food Pantry, contact 609-822-1108 or visit jfsatlantic. org.

Upcoming Bus Trips

Philadelphia Art Museum with the ACAA

▶Saturday, March 25th

Hitch a ride with the Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance to the Philadelphia Art Museum. Check in time is 7:40am at Absecon Field of Dreams, and the bus departs at 8am sharp. Please be prompt. The bus will return at approximately 6:30pm. Tickets are $50 per person and are for transportation only. Price does not include museum entry. For more information, visit www. abseconarts.com.

Health and Wellness

NAMI Connections and Family Support Groups

▶Monday, February 13th at 7pm

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

NAMI Connection is a recovery support group for adults with a mental health condition. Family Support Group is a support group for adult friends and family members of people with mental health conditions. Participants gain the support of their peers who understand their experience and gain insight into others’ challenges and successes.. For more information and to register, please visit www. namiacm.org, or call 609-741-5125. NAMI ACM is a non-profit 501C(3) corporation. Dementia Support Group

▶Wednesday, February 15th at 2pm

Earth Angels for Dementia 115 Route 50, Mays Landing

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

Mental Health Support and Discussion Groups

Online 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. Groups are also provided to individuals with a family member who lives with a mental health challenge. To receive a full list and to register, call 609652-3800 or unitedbywellness@mhanj. org. Offered by United By Wellness, which is programming of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, local office located in Galloway.

Recovery Groups

More than a dozen groups for individuals living with substance use disorder are offered online. Topics range from mental health/wellness to employment, faith, and more. Groups are provided 7 days a week. Interested participants can register for groups through unitedbywellness@ mhanj.org or by calling the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County at 609-6523800. Offered by United By Wellness, a statewide virtual wellness center.

Do you have an upcoming event? Let us know about it! Submit your next event to shorelocalevents@gmail.com.

National Recognition on the Horizon for Local Organization

phy. “Many kids expressed that the food we were giving them would be their last meal of the day, and that just didn’t sit right with me.”

By Krystle J Bailey

Since its inception in 2020, the non-profit organization Healing for the Soul, led by Chef Andre Murphy, has fed over 15,000 people in need throughout Atlantic County. With various initiatives now in place, the organization has gained over 50 endorsements and sponsors since 2020.

What began as a fundraiser for Murphy’s church has become an expansive ministry and contribution to local communities. One church feeding led to another, and within the span of two years, Chef Murphy and his team have gone on to feed people by the thousands.

The original dish, Murphy's Chicken N Potatoes, is now FDA-approved, and initiatives have expanded to include feeding programs for seniors, first responders, schools, and those impacted by tragedy.

PBS network caught wind of what Chef Murphy and his team were up to and have begun filming for the Table for All docuseries that will air this coming Spring. The filming team recently visited Egg Harbor Township to cover the Racing to Feed campaign, an event that fed hundreds of Atlantic County first responders.

In addition to the first responders campaign, over the last six months, Healing for the Soul has given out free meals to over 3,600 local seniors, 16 displaced families due to a fire, 355 pre-Thanksgiving dinners at senior living buildings, 150 family meals for the Egg Harbor Township community, and gave out 125 meals during the Egg Harbor City Coalition Coat Drive.

In February, the organization will be introducing the “Heat N Eat” campaign that will provide two local elementary schools with countertop refrigerators stocked with the signature FDA-approved Murphy’s Chicken N Potatoes dish. Students in need of a hot meal are invited to take a container home that can be easily reheated and enjoyed for dinner or an afternoon snack. Refrigerators will be restocked each week, and Chef Murphy is looking to expand into additional schools.

“Last year, we fed kids during an after-school program,” explains Mur-

The 60-day pilot program offers children who don’t go home to a warm meal an opportunity to be nourished and feel the love in each meal that is provided by Healing for the Soul.

In the next several weeks, the Healing for the Soul team will be opening the doors to their headquarters located in Pleasantville. They are looking forward to opening food centers where community members in need will be able to stop by and grab a hot meal to go. The goal is to implement 8-10 local feeding centers over the course of the next three months.

“For the last two years, we've been studying the eating habits of seniors, low-income families, kids, and people in need,” explains Murphy. “We understand what is needed, and we are bringing our resources together

so everyone can benefit. Our doors are always open for collaboration or partnership. It takes a village, and we are always moving forward.”

Since the first time Chef Murphy began distributing his family recipe of chicken and potatoes, he has hit the ground running. Food insecurity is an increasingly troublesome reality for many families in Atlantic County, and Chef Murphy and his team are dedicated to feeding as many people

as possible.

The team is comprised of 8 core members and 15 volunteers who share the vision and a heart for the community. Feeding events are made possible by gracious local sponsors, including Kramer Beverage, ACUA, and Parke Bank.

Healing for the Soul is currently accepting donations in the form of countertop refrigerators, volunteered time, or monetary donations. As they continue to expand, Chef Murphy knows that this is just the beginning and looks forward to serving more and more local communities. Learn more at www.RacingtoFeed. org or get in touch with Chef Murphy at ChefMurphy@racingtofeed.org / 609-338-2829.

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

Impress your valentine with the right wines

By David Setley

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and many of us are looking to impress our significant other. Often a dinner, whether at home or at a fa -

vorite restaurant, is part of the plan. Perhaps you want to select a wine or two that perfectly complements your meal and, along the way, shows your Valentine just how perfect a pair the two of you are. Read on for a few recommendations that will help you express the thoughtfulness and love you are trying to communicate to your mate through wine.

Let’s start with seafood. Southern New Jersey offers outstanding oysters and other shellfish. Whether as an appetizer or a meal, oysters, lobster, clams, crab, or shrimp can

be a romantic dinner choice. Sauvignon Blanc is the classic wine that pairs perfectly with shellfish. New Zealand has earned its place on the wine map with the excellent Sauvignon Blancs produced in the Marlborough region.

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, Winemaker’s Select 2022 vintage, is an excellent choice as a zesty and vibrant wine with notes of citrus and passionfruit.Sounds like Valentine’s Day to me! An alternative could be a Riesling from the Alsace region of France. My favorite is the Pierre Sparr Alsace Riesling. The citrus is light with the added aroma of white wildflowers. Either of these wines would also be a great choice for a vegetarian meal.

If your seafood of choice is white fish, such as halibut or flounder, Chardonnay is a classic pairing. There are many Chardonnay options, but I would go straight to the French section of the wine store, where wines of this varietal are produced to perfection. Jean-Paul Brun - Terres Dorées Chardonnay Beaujolais Blanc 2020 is an outstanding example. This dry white wine is crisp and fresh with notes of tree fruits and the classic buttery texture of a Chardonnay. This is a great choice if you do not like your Chardonnay to be too oaky, as it is aged in steel tanks and concrete. Chardonnay is also a great choice for chicken or pork menus.

If you are having an Italian meal with red sauce (or gravy, as some call it), I use the rule “drink what you are eating!” Italian food equals Italian wine. For pasta marinara, lasagna, manicotti, etc., my choice is a fine Chianti. Ruffino - Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale is a moderately priced Chianti that truly over-delivers. The nose and pallet are 100% Italian earthiness with hints of cherry, tobacco, and white pepper. It is the perfect pairing for an Italian Valentine’s meal.

The “drink what you are eating” rule also works if you are going with a Mexican-style menu. For a beefbased meal, try an Argentinian Malbec such as Bodega El Esteco - Don David Reserve Malbec 2020. Or, for a chicken or fish based dinner, Neboa - Albarino 2020 from Rios Baixas, Spain is perfect.

SOMERS POINT & EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP

If a steak dinner is on your Valentine’s Day itinerary, Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic pick. The full-bodied richness of this varietal pairs well with a heavier meal. Cab options are nearly as limitless as your culinary options. I love what is happening in Paso Robles, California with this varietal. Daou VineyardsCabernet Sauvignon Special Select 2021 is a reasonably priced and outstanding example. The deep color and rich flavor of this Bordeaux-inspired wine is excellent and will make your significant other think you spent much more than you actually did. Or, if you want to go Old World, Chateau Carbonneau - La Verriere 2020 from the right bank of Bordeaux, France will make your partner say, “Oui, Oui!” This rich, flavorful red is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Chateau Carbonneau produces only 400 cases of this wine each year, and only in years of good vintages. We are in luck. The 2020 vintage was great and is available. Either of these choices also pair well with other beef dinners, from braised short ribs to brisket, to pot roast.

For Chinese or Indian meals, especially the spicier options, I love a rosé. Yes, I know it is winter and many put this varietal in storage until warmer months, but rosé is perfect any day when the food choices call for it. Domaine Olga Raffault - Chinon Rose 2021 from Chinon, in the Loire Valley of France is a great option. 100% Cabernet Franc, the most prolific red grape of this particular region, is used to produce this wine. The result is an exotic, flavorful rosé that is dry and more full-bodied than you might expect. An exotic wine for a more exotic Valentine’s meal.

Your culinary choices are limitless; I hope this article has shown you that your wine choices are as well. Contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com with any questions or comments, or stop into the Somers Point store.Until next time, Happy Wining, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

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

Tuffy the Lion and the Wildwood Wall of Death

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Travel back in time to the Jersey Shore in 1938. Candy stripes, carnival acts and unique thrills are on every corner. There’s a waft of salty sea mist and chocolatey fudge in the air. A seagull cackles in the distance.

Wildwood and the nation were in the midst of the Great Depression. Tourism had taken a big hit so developers needed something special to entice everyday folks to spend their hard-earned dollars at the shore.

Atlantic City, Ocean City and Wildwood continued to make money because families in the Philadelphia region opted for oneday beach and boardwalk trips, not unlike today.

Steel Pier wowed crowds with diving horses, a diving bell and freak shows, so Wildwood’s boardwalk needed something big and bold to keep pace. That’s how the Wildwood Motordrome Wall of Death came into existence.

The Wall of Death, with its cryptic name, was a wooden, bowl-shaped enclosure in which speedsters whizzed around on motorcycles and

race cars. The main attraction was a lion riding in a sidecar.

Tuffy, a 300-pound male African lion, was owned by Joseph Dobish, a sideshow concessionaire. His wife, Irene, drove the race car at a dangerously fast speed around and around the enclosure, with Tuffy by her side.

Like most animal performers of that time, Tuffy was treated poorly. When he wasn’t riding shotgun around the Wall of Death, Tuffy was kept in a metal dog crate and ate very little. During the off-season, between Labor Day and Easter, the lion remained in the cage all day, every day.

On Oct. 5, 1938, when Dobish opened the cage to feed Tuffy at 5:30 p.m., the lion escaped. Dobish did not notify the police until an hour later. It proved to be a fatal mistake.

It was around 7:30 p.m. when Japanese immigrant Thomas Saito left work. He entered his vehicle with 9-year-old Masami Oishi, his boss’s son, intending to drop him off at home because his father went fishing.

They were out of the car about 150 feet from the boardwalk when they saw a massive lion bound toward them. Tuffy gave a terrific roar

Tuffy, a 300-pound male African lion, rides around the Wildwood Motordrome with Irene Dobish at the wheel. Photo Credit: Weird NJ Magazine

and lunged at the fourth-grader. Saito pushed the boy into the car.

The child witnessed Saito being torn limb from limb as Tuffy mauled the man. Oishi screamed in terror as the lion dragged Saito by the neck under the boardwalk.

Police ran to the scene of the attack and formed task forces to catch and kill Tuffy. Even the Boy Scouts and the volunteer fire department helped search for the murderous monster.

“Women shuttered their windows, children huddled in their homes and men ventured into the streets, armed with guns and flashlights to warn them of the approach of the huge beast,” wrote The Wildwood Tribune-Journal.

Officers ventured under the boardwalk to recover Saito’s body, following the trail of blood. His clothes had been shredded and his neck was broken. Large chunks of flesh had been ripped off his corpse.

Like a horror movie, the team heard some careful steps in the sand. A figure emerged from the shadows cast by the planks of the boardwalk. They heard a growl. Ptl. Millard Campbell fired into the void and wounded Tuffy, who ran off again.

According to Weird NJ Magazine, officer John Gares was patrolling

a fishing pier off the boardwalk when he spotted the lion, crouching behind a wire fence, stalking the policeman.

“It was the lion,” Gares later told reporters (as described in Weird NJ). “He was closing on me.”

Tuffy was just a few feet from Gares, waiting to pounce. There was a terrific roar, then the lion launched himself through the darkness.

As Tuffy leaped through the air toward Gares, the officer shot the lion between the eyes, taking down the cat.

Gares became a local hero and did multiple interviews with regional and national radio stations and newspapers. Three different women proposed to him.

Dobish, Tuffy’s owner, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and held on $3,000 bail. The grand jury asked the court to enact a law to ban dangerous animal acts on the boardwalk. One year later, a ban was enacted.

The Wall of Death continued to wow crowds for decades, slightly less entertaining without Tuffy riding in the sidecar.

It’s rumored that Tuffy’s head was stuffed and hung in one of the Wildwood bars, kept on display for several years, with a killer look in his eyes and a bullet in his forehead.

Your Sweet Tooth With Fruit

creas to release insulin and help your cells take in sugar. Apples promote bone health.

By Nancy Adler

Did you know that food cravings are linked to nutrient deficiencies? Every type of craving sends a different message. If you are anything like me, you are always on the hunt for something sweet.

If you're constantly craving desserts, it could mean you are deficient in magnesium or chromium. These nutrients are found in whole foods, such as broccoli, dried beans, liver, eggs, poultry and unprocessed grains.

An iron deficiency could also leave you with a sweet tooth, because your body is trying to supplement its oxygen depletion in red blood cells through simple sugar.

Balancing your diet is key in supplying nutrients to the body . This helps to prevent hunger and you’ll be less likely to get into sugar and set off all those cravings .

I would recommend adding more fruit into your diet, like figs, dates and berries.

Eating more fruit can reduce cravings and at the same time get all the benefits of nutrient-dense food. Polyphenols can stimulate your pan -

Lack of sleep also causes hunger - stimulating hormone ghrelin to increase output which causes you to eat more sweets and sugary treats. It also decreases levels of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin.

Worry not, reader. Try out my famous creamy fruit salad, which makes for a delicious snack or dessert, rich in vitamins and minerals. Yum!

You may find this recipe in my cookbook “Nancy’s Recipes for Life” available at my Linwood office location and Capellas Oil and Vinegar Store in Ocean City.

Whipped Creamy Fruit Salad

Ingredients

● 1 ( 20 oz ) can crushed pineapple

● 1( 15 oz.) can mandarin orange sections , drained

● 1 container sugar free cool whip

● 1 package sugar free fat free Jello brand banana cream pudding mix

● 1 cup grapes

● 1 cup strawberries, sliced

● 1 cup blueberries

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Enjoy right away or refrigerate until needed . Serves 10

Sleep is an important part of fitness

after day and you wonder why you aren’t seeing the changes you are working so diligently for.

Shore Fit

By Bonnie Dodd-Miller

Sleep is crucial to meeting your fitness goals. In fact, you must sleep for exercise to actually work. I highly recommend that you put yourself on a sleep schedule. This is a newer fitness avenue for me and why I’m writing on this topic. It’s the one piece that I need to tweak.

We workout for a purpose. We want to have good cardiovascular health, increase our lean muscle mass, improve endurance and so much more. All of these fitness goals require good sleep. Without sleep, exercise does not deliver those benefits. If you don’t sleep, you undermine your body.

We all know that our bodies repair while sleeping, so if we aren’t getting enough hours, how can our body do its job? You are doing your part in the gym, now let your body do its job and get the sleep you need.

Sleep gives your body time to recover and conserve energy. It repairs and builds the muscles you worked during exercise. When we get the proper amount of good quality sleep, our body produces growth hormone.

During childhood and adolescence, growth hormone makes us grow, but when we are older, it helps us build lean muscle. It also helps our body repair when we have torn ourselves up during a hard workout.

Here’s the problem; I just don’t sleep well. This is particularly tough as we age, at least for some of us. I don’t sleep solid for an entire night. It’s so broken, but as long as I’m resting, it’s the best that I can do.

The other problem is that most people have a major issue when it comes to sleep. Too many people are sleep deprived, which means they are not getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Of course this is the recommended amount for adults. Children and teens need more.

What this actually means is that if you fall in this category, you are seriously sabotaging your fitness goals.

It’s an important piece to the puzzle. If you don’t sabotage your fitness with unhealthy nutrition, then why would you with your sleep habits?

You workout and eat clean, but stay up past midnight scrolling social media or watching television and then wake by 6 or 7 a.m. This lifestyle is now on repeat day

Sleep is crucial. An actual sleep schedule is important. I’m not saying that it can’t be flexible at times. Of course, the weekends may look a little different. Also, the better rested you are, the better your mind and body function and that includes at the gym.

If you’re well rested, you’ll also feel motivated to get those workouts completed and have the right amount of energy to keep you motivated and crush your workout regimen.

I know if I’m putting in the time, why would I want to do a workout that I wasn’t pleased with.

Workout, eat a balanced diet and get those zzzz’s. Stay consistent with this and big changes will keep you going for the long haul.

Imported European Grocery

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

Celebrate your love at a local winery

cookies, expertly paired with three signature cocktails. The event will run from 6 to 7 p.m. and tickets are only $30.

Going Places with Dina Guzzardo

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and Renault Winery, located at 72 N. Bremen Ave.in Egg Harbor City, is the perfect place to celebrate love.

With its perfectly manicured gardens and beautifully decorated function rooms, Renault offers a romantic setting for couples, friends and anyone looking to celebrate this special occasion.

From Feb. 15 to 16, Renault will be hosting its annual "Galentine's Day" celebration. This holiday, inspired by the fictional character Leslie Knope from “Parks and Recreation,” is a way to celebrate female friendship.

This year's theme, “Cookies and Cocktails,” will feature in-house pastry chefs preparing three themed

For couples who want a romantic experience, Renault has a special Couples Skate event taking place every Friday-Sunday from now through February including Valentine's Day.

The Valentine's Sweetheart Skate 2-Pack includes two tickets and skate rentals for only $39.89. Additionally, each ticket purchase comes with a free glass of wine.

The main event of the night is the Valentine's Day Dinner, featuring a four-course meal including berry salad, braised beef tortellini, surf and turf, and crème brulé and chocolate covered strawberries. Reservations can be made online or by calling the winery.

For active couples, Renault is also hosting the Wine and Chocolate Mardi Gras Run on Feb. 19, starting at 10 a.m. The $40 entry fee includes race entry, chocolate, wine, a stemless wine glass keepsake, and a chocolate finisher's medal.

There will be pre- and post-race music, awards for first male and female finishers, and prizes for age group winners.

Self care is also a priority during Valentine's week at Renault. On Feb. 18, Anna Trefel from Pure Haven will host a Meet the Makers Sip and Spa event to educate attendees on skin care. It will feature a champagne wall, a free glass of wine and the opportunity to test Pure Haven skin care products.

Guests will also receive a free gift, including a Gua sha, face roller, Pure Haven lotion and a 10 percent discount on any Pure Haven product.

The cost of the event is $52 and

attendees can enjoy 20 percent off their ticket with the code SIPNSPA20.

For those looking to create a memorable Valentine's experience, Renault offers a Valentine's Dinner Package. For $279, guests get an overnight stay in one of Renault's standard rooms, a bottle of Renault wine, a pre-fix dinner for two, and a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. This offer is valid on stays between Feb. 14 and 16.

Renault Winery is the ultimate destination for Valentine's celebrations, with something for everyone.

For more information on Renault Winery and its Valentine's Week events, visit https://www.renaultwinery.com/valentines-week/.

Dina Guzzardo is the owner and creative director of Dina Productions Group, an innovative event design and execution company that designs and executes all types of corporate and private parties and events. For more information visit www.dinaproductionsgroup.com.

Atlantic City Wing Fest will be a clucking good time at Golden Nugget

Atlantic City Wing Fest

By Scott Cronick

Atlantic City Wing Fest will be all it’s clucked up to be. How can it not?

Pair 18 of South Jersey’s finest restaurants offering the best and most creative wings with awesome music, fun contests, awards, craft beer, cocktails and more, and it’s impossible not to have a good time.

It all goes down noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Ballroom at Golden Nugget Atlantic City. The event is completely sold out.

Those who were wise enough to buy their tickets early will not only be able to eat wings that range from Asian-inspired to sweet to spicy and everything in between, but The Anthony Krizan Band, featuring the former lead guitarist of The Spin Doctors, will be joined by South Jersey harmonica legend Sandy Mack for a bluesy rock concert that is worth the price of admission itself. (See sidebar.)

Those who bought Early Admission Tickets get to arrive at noon, giving them a jump on those with General Admission tickets, who will be able to join the festivities at 1 p.m.

Golden Nugget will offer a stellar bar featuring specialty cocktails and craft beer, including selections from “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer’s Faith American Brewing Company.

Please remember to support all of these fabulous bars and restaurants with wing orders for the Super Bowl. The good news is that you can choose your favorite wing of the day as every attendee will also serve as a judge. Attendees will receive a poker chip to vote for your fave. Just drop it in the token box at the restaurant’s wing booth, and they will be all counted to see who wins three Eaters Choice Awards.

There are also several special awards, including Best Overall Dipping Sauce, Fancy Pants Dipping Sauce, Fancy Pants Wing, Damn, Those Wings Are Hot!, Best Wing and Dipping Sauce Combo, Most Dapper Display and Best Classic Wing.

And now for the most important awards: Three judges (see sidebar)

Where: Ballroom, Golden Nugget Atlantic City

When: Noon to 4 p.m. for Early Admission Ticket Holders, 1 to 4 p.m. for General Admission Ticket Holders

Price: Sold out! No tickets will be sold at the door.

Sponsors: WMGM Rocks103.7FM, Visit AC, OceanFirst Bank, Golden Nugget, Paris Produce

Online: Like Atlantic City Wing Fest on Facebook

from the Philadelphia area will rate all of the wings in a blind judging procedure that will determine the Top 3 Judges Choice Awards, including ultimate wing supremacy.

Atlantic City Wing Fest will certainly be one for the culinary ages. Here are the 18 wing contestants and their offerings so you can do a little homework before the big day.

Bill's Bar & Burger at Golden Nugget

Sometimes, you have to just go with what works. And that is exactly the case with Bill’s, which has fared very well in previous wing contests with their traditional buffalo sauce. The awesome American comfort joint inside Golden Nugget may be best known for their burgers, but

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their wings are killer, too. A little sweet thanks to the honey in the recipe, Bill’s wing has that perfect balance of sweet and savory with a little kick to it for good measure. Bill’s will keep it old school with their dipping sauce, too, providing a simple but scrumptious blue cheese for your pleasure.

(Bill’s is located inside Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina. Go to GoldenNugget.com)

teams of three had a wing-off, and the winners were second-semester students Lola Sarni, Bill Fence and Julio Gomez, who came up with East Meets West Wings, a conglomeration of Italian and Latin wings featuring tomato juice, brown sugar, honey, chipotle sauce, orange juice, adobo and roasted garlic. They paired it with Lola’s Secret Sauce, a dill-based ranch concoction for a great combo. Now, the students will work at Wing Fest where they can be proud of their creation, and yes, have fun!

(Careme’s is located at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College, 5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing. Go to Atlantic. edu/aca/Caremes)

came up with Orange is the New Pink wings featuring cherry pepper vinegar-brined wings seasoned with rosemary, oregano, salt and pepper. They are oven roasted until crispy and tossed in Chef Freddy Stipa’s house-made wing sauce featuring apricot and plum jam, garlic, ginger and some secret ingredients. If that wasn’t enough, dip those suckers into Primo Freddie’s Asian-inspired Blue Cheese featuring buttermilk, sambal, green onion and more for that perfect combination.

(Cuzzie’s is located at 131 S. Tennessee Ave., Atantic City. Go to CuzziesPizzeria.com.)

aren’t known for their Asian food, Essl’s Peking Chicken Wings with chili sauce, hoisin, soy, brown sugar and hot sauce will once again redefine what Essl’s is all about. Sprinkled with sesame seeds, they are pure goodness.

(Essl’s is located at 7001 E. Black Horse Pike, West Atlantic City. Go to EsslsDugoutNJ.com)

Careme's Restaurant at Academy of Culinary Arts Academy of Culinary Arts Adjunct Professor Georgeann Leaning had a great idea: Show the students there is more to learning knife skills and mastering the mother sauces. Show them that the food industry can be fun, too. So Leaming, with the guidance of Academy Director Joe Sheridan, asked students to compete for the best wing recipe at the school. Six

Cuzzie's Pizzeria Kitchen

Leave it to Cuzzie’s, the new pizza and sandwich joint on Tennessee Avenue in Atlantic City, to come up with something out of the box. Co-Owner Lee Sanchez and his crew

PUTTING YOU AND THE COMMUNITY FIRST

Deauville Inn

The new-and-improved Deauville Inn is pushing the boundaries from a culinary standpoint thanks to its Executive Chef TJ Ricciardi and his team. So, why would their entry for Wing Fest be any different? The Strathmere-based restaurant and tourist destination will bring it with Mezcal-Ancho Chili Wings, a South of the Border-influenced offering featuring mezcal tequila, ancho peppers, cumin, cilantro, chipotle peppers and even some brown sugar to sweeten that heat. Dip ’em in some Avocado Mousse with heavy cream and jalapenos, and you have a winning recipe.

(Deauville is located at 201 Willard Road, Strathmere. Go to DeauvilleInn.com)

EastWind Chinese Restaurant & Noodle Bar at Resorts Casino Hotel

EastWind Noodle Bar, located right off the Atlantic City Boardwalk in the entrance of Resorts Casino Hotel, will wow the crowd with their unique, sweet-and-spicy Hunanese Wings made with sweet and spicy sauce, quick-pickled cucumbers and scallion. The Kimchi Aioli dipping sauce may be the main attraction with fresh, chopped kimchi, garlic, horseradish and sriracha. You won’t need chopsticks for this amazing creation.

(EastWind is located inside Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City. Go to ResortsAC.com)

Essl's Dugout

If there is a wing competition – or any major event, for that matter – you will find Essl’s Dugout Restaurant absolutely killing it. The hard-working, husband-and-wife team of Robert and Carey Hettmannsperger are always coming up with creative spins on classic comfort food, and their Wing Fest entry is no different. Essl’s always offers awesome wings on their catering menu, and even though they

Hooters

Everyone has had Hooters wings at one point or another. They are awesome. The attractive servers are just a bonus. But have you ever had their Chipotle Honey Wings? If not, you are in for a treat. Hooters, located inside the Tropicana Atlantic City, has impressed wing enthusiasts in past wing contests with a variety of wings ranging from their traditional to smoked to dryrubbed, but the Chipotle Honey Wings with cayenne and red pepper, honey, aged habaneros, chipotle and garlic may be their best competitive wing yet! And ranch dressing lovers take note: When you dunk those sweet-and-spicy wings into their Rockin’ Ranch Dipping ↘

our footprint expands, we’re still with you every step of the way.

Atlantic City Wing Fest Contenders

Bill’s Bar & Burger at Golden Nugget

Slice Piz zeria at Caesars Atlantic Cit y

Careme’s at Atlantic Cape

Communit y College

Cuz zie’s Piz zeria & Kitchen

Deauville Inn

EastWind at Resor ts Casino Hotel

Essl’s Dugout

Hooters

PC Event Ser vices at Showboat

Michael Patrick’s at Golden Nugget

MotleyQue NJ

Holy Cit y Publick House

Romanelli’s Garden Cafe

TacocaT

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

Villain & Saint at Ocean Casino Resor t

Wingcraft Kitchen & Beer Bar

Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern

Sauce, you will know what heaven tastes like.

(Hooters is located inside the Tropicana Atlantic City. Go to NortheastHooters.com)

their new Holy City Sauce featuring horseradish, ketchup, mustard, Cajun seasoning, honey and more garlic. Should be interesting. Word on the street is this Chiodi character is larger than life, and these wings sound like they will be too!

(Holy City is located at 332 Jersey Ave., Gloucester City. Go to HolyCityPublickHouse.com)

– I mean you came this far, so why not? - dip ’em in the Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese with fresh-peeled garlic, buttermilk and more, and you really are doing your taste buds a solid here.

(Michael Patrick’s is located inside Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina. Go to GoldenNugget.com)

(PC Event Services operates numerous restaurants inside Showboat Atlantic City. Go to PCEventServices.com or ShowboatHotelAC.com)

Holy City Publick House

Atlantic City Wing Fest is proud to feature a competitor that’s a little outside of our usual restaurant range, and we were thrilled to welcome Holy City Public House from Gloucester City when they called us to get in on the action. So, what the hell is a Chiodi Wing? Well, it’s named after a customer who one day decided to take Holy City’s most popular sauce – Maple Hot, made with fresh maple syrup from a farm in Michigan – and combine it with their second most popular sauce – Garlic Parm, resulting in an amazing flavor combination now known as Chiodi Wings, which are now Holy City’s most popular flavor for those in the know. They will be accompanied by

Michael Patrick's Brasserie at Golden Nugget

When you win previous wing competitions with an amazing recipe, why change it, right? Well, that’s the philosophy the crew at Michael Patrick’s Brasserie is taking with their Garlic Buffalo Wings. Michael Patrick’s, the awesome café inside Golden Nugget, hopes to win over the judges and attendees again with the fan favorite recipe featuring hot sauce, chopped garlic, honey and more. If you aren’t worried about having garlic breath

MotleyQue NJ

Another newbie to Atlantic City Wing Fest is MotleyQue, an awesome food truck that specializes in unique, nontraditional barbecue such as their deep-fried pulled pork and stuffed chicken and waffles. Case in point is their Twisted Thwings that are seasoned, smoked and then slathered in a homemade BBQ sauce featuring cayenne pepper, fresh tomato, brown sugar and more. Their dipping sauce – appropriately named Motley Kick BBQ Cream – is particularly interesting as they take their BBQ wing sauce and mix it up with some sour cream for some tasty results. Smoke ’em if you got ’em! And with an ’80s rock ’n’ roll theme inspired by Motley Crue, how can you not be a fan?

(MotleyQue is a roaming food truck that will be at the next event near you. Find MotleyQue NJ on Facebook.)

Romanelli's Garden Café

Thanks to Owner Drew Huggard, Romanelli’s Garden Café has really evolved since he took ownership a few years ago. For starters, they added a gorgeous new bar, and any South Jersey bar isn’t worth its salt without a good wing. And Romanelli’s certainly has that covered. Known for their signature limonecello wings, Huggard wanted to do something even more different, and his Sticky Root Beer Float Wings are likely to be the talk of Wing Fest. Sweet thanks to its sassafras glaze and brown sugar, yet savory and spicy thanks to its soy sauce, serrano peppers and Thai chilis, these wings find a perfect balance. To kick it up a notch, the French Vanilla Dipping Sauce not only completes the root beer float concept, but makes them pretty ridiculous … in a good way!

(Romanelli’s Garden Café is located at 279 S. New York Road, Galloway. Go to RomanellisGardenCafe.com)

PC Event Services at Showboat Atlantic City

PC Event Services, the restaurant company behind a slew of restaurants that already exist or will open soon at Showboat Atlantic City - including the seafood buffet and the eatery inside the new waterpark – will make its wing competition debut with their Honey BBQ Whiskey Wings. The secret recipe has hot sauce, BBQ sauce and whiskey … what more can you ask for? Oh, how about some chunky blue cheese for your dipping pleasure.

Slice Pizzeria at Caesars Atlantic City

Caesars Atlantic City is getting most of the culinary attention in Atlantic City lately thanks to opening both Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen and Nobu, but Caesars wants to remind people they have Slice Pizzeria, a very cool, casual concept where you can find inexpensive comfort food at its finest. Their Gangnam-Style Korean Wings will be the third entry with an Asian flair at Wing Fest, and they will certainly impress thanks to their fresh ginger, gochujang sauce, soy sauce and more. Will they be better than the “Gangnam Style” music video? We are pretty confident they will be.

(Slice is located inside Caesars Atlantic City. Go to CaesarsAC.com)

Proud to Sponsor the Atlantic City Wing Fest 2023

TacocaT Margate

South Jersey sure has its share of authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex eateries, but TacocaT is the only Cali-Mex restaurant that we are aware of … and it’s absolutely one of our favorite places to eat, whether at their Margate

location or when they bring out their food truck – Kitty Cat – to feed the masses at events and catering gigs. We already love TacocaT’s signature Naked Wings – fried or grilled – with their spicy rum-cola sauce, but Owners Mike and Randi Talley wanted to create something new and original for Wing Fest, and man did they ever succeed. Their Guava Habanero Wings with fresh guava puree, habanero peppers, roasted garlic and pineapple, brown sugar, curry, honey and more, will tantalize your tastebuds, which will really explode when you dip them into their Avocado Maytag Blue

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The Band

The Anthony Krizan Band with Sandy

Mack

Atlantic City Wing Fest isn’t just about eating wings. It’s an entertainment event, and we are thrilled to have The Anthony Krizan Band with special guest Sandy Mack be our featured performers.

If you’re looking for your typical cover band that you find at many events, The Anthony Krizan Band is anything but.

But if you are looking for an amazing, blues-based rock band fronted by one of the best guitarists on the planet that performs raucous originals and a few covers, then The Anthony Krizan Band is exactly what you need in your life.

As the former lead guitarist of The Spin Doctors, Krizan opened for The Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers, spent 10 years as a touring guitarist with iconic Jimi Hendrix bassist Noel Redding, and he’s an original member of Amphibian with Phish lyricist Tom Marshall.

Earlier this year, Krizan was a guest guitarist for headliner and music legend John Waite at the 2023 Light of Day Festival at the

Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. In fact, Krizan co-wrote the title track to Waite’s new EP, “Anything,” and he produced three tracks on the release. He also cowrote the title track to Waite’s Mercury release “When You Were Mine.”

Krizan has penned rock/soul staples such as "Stand By My Woman" with Lenny Kravitz, five songs on the “Spin Doctors Greatest Hits,” the theme of the “Spin City” TV series and The Howard Stern Show’s “Miss America” theme.

Having worked with stellar musicians during his career, Krizan's true passion is his solo career and his brand of swampy, rock/blues/soul, genre-crossing music. Check out his latest album, “Dust & Bone,” which was well-received and recorded by Gretchen Wilson, blues guitar legend Pat Travers and Tim Hicks on Universal Records. His latest singles “Sweet Divine,” "Strawberry Wine” and "Forbidden VooDoo" are currently streaming on all platforms.

Krizan will be joined by his fantastic band as well as special guest Sandy Mack, a Jersey Shore singer and harmonica-playing legend. Mack is known for his involvement in the Asbury Park music scene and played alongside greats such as Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Southside Johnny and others. Mack, a well-versed session musician, has released his own solo albums and will certainly help Krizan’s band kick it up a notch at Atlantic City Wing Fest.

Cheese featuring fresh avocados, buttermilk and crumbled blue cheese. Now that sounds very Cali-Mex to us!

(TacocaT is located at 8 S. Essex Ave., Margate. Go to TacocatSouthJersey.com)

Tennessee Avenue

Beer Hall

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall has had great success in previous wing competitions to the point that they had to add one of their creations to its perma-

nent menu. And while their Sweet Soy Wings, as well as their more traditional but amazing TK Wings, would probably fare well again, Chef Charles Soreth wanted to create something cool and new that could end up being their next menu staple. The Chili-Garlic Buffalo Wings mix a little traditional with a little contemporary thanks to its hot sauce, honey, chili-garlic sauce and lots of butter. Dip them into Soreth’s Buttermilk and Chive Blue Cheese, and experience the magic!

The Judges

(Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall is located at 133 S. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. Go to TennesseeAvenueBeerHall.com)

Villain & Saint at Ocean Casino Resort

straight! Located at Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City, Wingcraft always goes the extra mile to ensure quality and greatness no matter what the menu item is, but their “Classy Wings” for Wing Fest are certainly next level. A hybrid recipe combines Wingcraft’s classic and delicious buffalo sauce with a Moscato Habanero wine sauce for an amazing flavor profile. To make things even more awesome, Wingcraft will top those wings with fried garlic and offer a homemade truffle blue cheese for dipping delight. Wow!

(Wingcraft is located inside Tanger Outlets, 2010 Baltic Ave., Atlantic City. Go to WingcraftAC.com)

No one looks forward to judging wing events more than Jonathan Deutsch. The lead judge of Atlantic City Wing Fest knows food so well that he decided to teach others about it for a living. Deutsch is not only a professor of culinary arts and food science at Drexel University, he is not only the director of Drexel’s Food Lab, he not only is the director of Food Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programs at Drexel, but is also a columnist for Restaurant Business magazine and has authored and/or edited about 10 books, including “Barbecue: A Global History.”

“It’s always a pleasure to see the culinary creativity of A.C.’s best chefs as they make wings from perfectly executed classics to never-seen-before flavor innovation,” said Deutsch, who, by the way, is also a classically trained chef. “It’s an honor to judge, which gives me a seat at the most exclusive 18-course tasting menu in the world!”

And, just for good measure, Deutsch also plays the tuba. But not as well as he cooks.

Brian Lofink

Bran Lofink sums it up pretty well why he should be a judge at Atlantic City Wing Fest: “I’ve been mastering the art of wing cookery my whole life…I was born for this competition!”

’Nuff said. But jus t to add to his resume, the Philadelphia-based chef

is a regular judge at previous wing eating competitions and is the Culinary Director for Simons, Frank & Company, a restaurant group known for their amazing Philadelphia-area eateries such as Khyber Pass Pub, Royal Boucherie, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Royal Tavern, Triangle Tavern, Cantina Los Caballitos and Cantina Dos Segundos. The man can cook. The man can eat. The man can judge.

One of our favorite restaurants inside any Atlantic City casino – Villain & Saint at Ocean Casino Resort – is another place that consistently wins over judges and eaters at events like Atlantic City Wing Fest. No one takes this contest more seriously than Chef Jorge Barreto Jr., who will wow everyone in attendance with his Sriracha Agave Wings. If you see the trend of sweet and heat going together at Wing Fest, you are on to something, and these wings featuring Thai chili sauce, sriracha, agave nectar and chopped cilantro are special. Villain & Saint will bring back its popular Big Dipper sauce with mayo, chili sauce, pickle juice and chopped pickles to hopefully bring home some hardware.

Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern

Consider Jamie Jackson our front-of-the-house representation as a Wing Fest judge. The general manager of the Walnut Street Café in University City in Philadelphia has never judged a wing competition here in Atlantic City before, but she has judged a burger contest, so she’s diversifying this time out. Jackson has some local ties, starting her career at the former Ram’s Head Inn in Galloway as maitre’d before becoming manager at Atlantic City’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Other gigs include brand campaign manager at Shake Shack, director of operations for Good Karma Cafes in Center City and more.

And Barretto isn’t done: He is also bringing a second wing – Freestyle Lemon Pepper Wings – for the crowd to enjoy. But he is going to have to make a tough choice of which wing will be graded by the judges since only one wing can be entered into the contest. And after tasting both, that’s a tough choice.

(Villain & Saint is located inside Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City. Go to TheOceanAC.com)

Just like at the Deauville, Executive Chef TJ Ricciardi is making things great again at the legendary Yesterday’s in Marmora. But unlike the Deauville, Yesterday’s is more casual and excels in comfort food, so wings are a major part of that success story. For Yesterday’s, Ricciardi will roll out a new creation: English Malt Dry Rub Wings, the only dry wing attendees will savor at Wing Fest this year. Made with paprika, cumin, rosemary, malt vinegar, brown sugar and more, these wings will certainly stand out among the others, and their Comeback Sauce for dipping features chili sauce, mayo, chipotle, pimento, hot sauce and more for a truly unique wing-eating experience. Impressive.

(Yesterday’s is located at 316 Roosevelt Blvd., Marmora. Go to YesterdaysTavern.com)

Wingcraft Kitchen & Beer Bar

With a name like Wingcraft, their wings have to be good, right? Damn

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.

Jonathan Deutsch

Jamie Jackson

Fight the winter blues by growing a hint of spring indoors

Le t It Grow

By Tammy Thornton

If you’re anything like me, you’re done staring out of the window at a bleak, dormant garden. Dreams of soft pink roses blooming over the arbor seem like a memory too far away to grasp. But take heart, did you realize that spring is next month? The evening of March 20, to be precise. When you think of it that way, spring seems within reach, and we just need to fight the winter blues for a little longer. Growing spring flowers like primroses indoors might just be the pick-me-up that you need to get through the last few weeks of winter.

Primroses come in all ranges of cheery colors. They are among the first spring flowers to bloom. In fact, their name can be translated as the

“first roses” of the season. This time of year, you can find these happy little flowers at the grocery stores and garden nurseries marketed as houseplants. However, these dainty flowers are actually tough perennials that can survive the cold of winter and come up smiling in the early days of spring. Even so, you don’t want to send these greenhouse-coddled babies to the cold just yet. Primroses that you find available in the stores this time of year have most likely been forced to bloom as houseplants, earlier than they would in nature. Enjoy their happy flowers throughout the house for a taste of spring while everything outdoors is still dormant.

When grown indoors, primroses should bloom for a few weeks. Be sure to snip spent blooms (deadhead) frequently to maximize flowering. They will want bright but indirect sunlight as a houseplant. Keep them well-watered but, like most indoor plants, also well-drained. Soggy soil and “wet feet” will lead to root rot. They should only be grown as a houseplant temporarily, since they were born to live in the great outdoors. Once spring is in

full force, you can plant these babies in the ground in your garden.

When transplanting your primrose outside, keep in mind that it has been living the pampered life and will be shocked when going from your warm cozy dining room to the harsh realities of early spring weather. Wait until the threat of frost is over and gradually “harden off” your plant. This primrose may or may not rebloom, since it had been tricked into blooming early. However, once your primrose adjusts to its new outdoor life, it should revert to its normal cycle of bloom the following season. This only applies to primroses that have been grown as houseplants. Primroses sold at garden nurseries in spring should be hardy plants that relish the cold weather. In fact, once it gets too hot, the foliage will die down, and the plant will go dormant.

Plant primroses in a partially-shaded area of the garden that only receives morning sun or filtered sunlight. They will be very happy in a dappled sunlight woodland garden. Though they go dormant in summer, you will probably see the rosette leaves reappear when the weather gets cooler

again in early fall. You may even receive the gift of a few flowers. Place a little protective mulch around the plants before winter freezes set in.

For now, enjoy a little hint of spring indoors while dreaming about your future garden. One word of caution, primroses are mildly toxic to pets. If you have a nibbling kitty around, you will want to place your primrose in a safe place. You may want to use a glass cloche which will provide good humid conditions for your plant, while protecting your furry friend. Just be sure to keep the cloche from direct sunlight so you don’t bake your primrose.

We would love to hear from our readers. How do you fight the winter blues? What’s your favorite indoor flower? Kindly send your comments, pictures, and questions to: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.

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

Ocean City hosts pickleball event for Special Olympics Athletes

Ocean City hosted a new Unified Pickleball event on Saturday, Jan. 28. at the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center at Sixth Street and Boardwalk.

In the Special Olympics, the term “Unified” designates sports in which athletes with disabilities team up with people from the community or local teams. The inaugural event in Ocean City included 16 athletes with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. They ranged in age from teens to young adults.

Play was broken up into 10-minute sessions geared toward teaching the game. The Special Olympics hopes to make pickleball an official sport in the near future. It will be

included as an exhibition competition at this year’s Special Olympics’ State Summer Games. While Saturday’s event in Ocean City was not officially affiliated with the Special Olympics, the goal was to give local athletes a head start in the new sport. The city hopes one day to be a host of official Special Olympics Pickleball events.

Ocean City is home to annual Special Olympics competitions in swimming (scheduled this year for March 19), track and field (May 7) and other events.

“We are very excited about this new event, and I would love to make Ocean City a Special Olympics town,” Mayor Jay Gillian said.

Photos by Donald B Kravitz

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

Garlic is so misunderstood

cauda or Aioli, a creamy sauce made with garlic and olive oil similar to mayonnaise.

By Chef Joseph Massaglia

It’s surprising to me that some people don’t like the flavor of garlic. I think it might be because they are using too much garlic when they’re cooking, or perhaps they aren’t prepping it properly.

Here in America garlic is overused in recipes. Its flavor is intense in every pizza, pasta sauce and even breadsticks (think Olive Garden breadsticks). Its strong flavor has become synonymous with Italian cooking, and in my humble opinion that is not fair. When used properly, garlic should enhance the flavor of the dish (much like anchovies do in a sauce to add umami flavor without one ever tasting the anchovies), not make the dish taste like garlic. Unless, of course, you want it to be the star of the dish as it is in pesto, Piedmontese bagna

How you prepare garlic for a recipe does affect how strong its flavor becomes. Chopping or slicing garlic is better for delivering a more mellow flavor, whereas pressing garlic in a garlic press gives a more aggressive and intense flavor. And the longer you let chopped garlic sit, the stronger its flavor becomes.

Sometimes raw garlic can be too intense in a recipe, so you can blanch it if you want to use it in salads, pesto or hummus. An easy way to do this is to microwave your cloves of garlic in a bowl for two to three minutes, or until they're warm to the touch but not cooked. The end result is garlic with a smoother taste that will go perfectly with cold dishes.

Historians have found that garlic was grown by the Egyptians as early as 2900 B.C., but none of the recipes

found for those times used garlic. The pharaohs only fed it to their slaves and horses as a source of energy!

According to Burt Greene in his 1979 cookbook Kitchen Bouquets, “Upper class Egyptians shunned the flavoring entirely, as did the people of the Indus Valley (the Indian subcontinent).

Chill Out at the Library

Citizens of the Indus Valley were forbidden to plant the bulbs in their gardens. And the fine for having garlic on one’s breath was often the removal of the person’s nose!”

Even the ancient Italians thought garlic was only for peasants. It was seen as a cheap, abundant and easy to grow allium (member of the onion family). An ancient Roman poem describes a meal of leeks, onions, bitter greens, cabbage and “stinking garlic” that was eaten only by men who plowed the fields.

So, how did strong garlic flavor become pervasive in Italian cooking, especially today in Italian-American cooking? When Italian immigrants came to America to pursue the American Dream they were used to having garlic in their diet, and it was equally easy to grow here and always cheap. Plus, in those days, American cooking was very bland, therefore the smell of garlic emanating from Italian

Bagna Cauda

(P iedmontese Garlic and Anchovy Sauce)

Chef Joe Massaglia

This sauce is one of the specialties of Piedmontese cooking, served whenever the Piedmontese feel hungry accompanied by coarse red wine. The name literally means “hot bath” because raw vegetables, in particular tender cardoons, celery, peppers, artichokes and chicory, are dipped into it. It is usual to serve bagna cauda in the pan in which it has been cooked, kept hot at the table over a small spirit stove.

● 1 cup butter

● 4 tablespoons olive oil

● 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

● 6 anchovy fillets, chopped

● Salt to taste

● 1 small truffle, thinly sliced

Heat the butter and olive oil together in a shallow pan, earthenware if possible, and sauté the garlic gently without letting it brown. Take the pan off the heat and add the anchovies. Stir well with a wooden spoon. Return pan to a low heat and continue cooking, stirring, until the anchovies have dissolved into a paste. Season with a pinch of salt and add the truffle. Serve hot.

kitchens was a very strong smell to most Americans.

It wasn’t until after World War II when soldiers came back from having tasted the delicious flavors of the world, and in the 1950s when many chefs began promoting the Mediterranean diet, that Americans began to really appreciate garlic, so much so that it was greatly overused and cooked badly – some Italian chefs said American chefs always burned the garlic in their recipes.

But Italians use far less garlic than you think. Did you know that China has the largest per capita consumption of garlic in the world, eating 87% of all garlic produced. And that Romanians chew raw garlic to ward off a cold? And, of course, vampires!!

In addition to pesto, one my favorite recipes featuring garlic is Bagna Cauda from my home region of Piedmontese. I’ve included the recipe for Bagna Cauda from my website, www.joestablefortwo.com, with this article.

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

Remembering

Football Team, and three years in a row he broke the state record in the shot put and discus.

A Look Back at Ocean City

By Fred Miller

Twenty years ago, Tom Williams, award winning columnist, named Archie Harris as Ocean City’s “Male Athlete of the Century.”

Archie Harris was a four-year letter winner in football, basketball and track at Ocean City High School from 1933 to 1937. He was a member of the All-State

Harris was the best high school discus thrower in America when he competed in the 1936 Olympic Trials. He missed making the trip to Berlin by 7 inches. Unfortunately, World War II forced the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games and ended Harris’ dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.

In 1937, Harris enrolled at Indiana University. He quickly became well known for his play on the football field. He was on the 1940 All-Big Ten team.

By 1941, Harris had gained world-wide fame for his long distance discus throws. “Harris Shatters Discus Standard” was the headline in the June 21, 1941 New York Times. A smaller banner reported “Toss of 174 feet 8 ¾ inches in N.C.A.A. Meet on Coast Breaks World Record.” The old record of 174 feet 2 ½ inches was set by Willi Schroder of Germany in 1935.

Harris spent his summers during high school and college working as a lifeguard on the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In the late afternoon, when everyone had left the beach, he would practice throwing the discus and shot put. A crowd would quickly gather along the boardwalk at Fifth Street to watch the world champion athlete workout.

Harris left the beach patrol to fight in World War II. He joined the Army Air Corps where, after learning to fly at the Tuskegee Flight School, he became a fighter pilot. He chalked up 10,000 hours as a bomber pilot with the much-decorated 617th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Composite Group, Tactical Air Command.

After the war he tried to get a job as a commercial pilot, but in 1946, no one would hire an African-American pilot. He found work as a New York longshoreman, but he found racial discrimination was also on the waterfront. African-Americans were not put in positions of authority. After ten years on the docks, he moved

up only two small steps.

“Discrimination in the North” was the banner across the cover of the March 11, 1957 issue of the most popular weekly magazine—LIFE. Archie Harris was featured in the article which described the job discrimination he and other African-Americans faced at the time.

In 1957, seeing no future as a longshoreman, and realizing he had no chance of becoming a commercial pilot, Harris became a physical education teacher at the Harlem, New York YMCA. He spent the rest of his life improving the lives of young people.

Archie Harris died on October 29, 1965 after a lengthy illness. He was 47 years old. He is buried in the Beverly (NJ) National Cemetery.

On June 20, 1941, Archie Harris won his second straight National Collegiate Athletic Association discus title with a world-record toss of 174 feet, 8 ¾ inches.

What's happening in Ocean City?

First of Summer Concert Series Tickets Go on Sale

Ocean City and producers BRE Presents and Bob Rose Productions will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the popular Summer Concert Series at the Ocean City Music Pier this year, and three shows were announced on Monday.

Songwriter Aimee Mann, a Beatles tribute band called The Fab Four, and local rock legend George Thorogood are the first shows planned in what promises to be an exceptional anniversary season.

Grammy-nominated artist Aimee Mann has released 12 solo albums since the group ‘Til Tuesday disbanded in the early 1990s. The California-based Fab Four have shared the sound of the Beatles on worldwide tours over the course of the past 25 years. George Thorogood

on sale through Ticketmaster on Thursday, Feb. 2. A limited number of tickets for the shows will be available through the Music Pier Box Office later in the spring.

The Summer Concert Series features a lineup of rock and popular music concerts typically on Monday nights at the Ocean City Music Pier. Look for new show announcements in the coming week.

The current lineup includes: Aimee Mann (plus Jonathan Coulton)

Ocean City Music Pier

Monday, July 31 – 7 p.m.

On Sale Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.

The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute

Ocean City Music Pier

Bad All Over The World – 50 Years of Rock

Ocean City Music Pier

Monday, August 28 – 7 p.m.

On Sale Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.

NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FUN DAY SET FOR FEB. 18

The Ocean City Environmental Commission will sponsor a free family-friendly Nature and Environmental Fun Day 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Ocean City High School cafeteria. The event includes interactive education, zoo animals, crafts, games, a recycling activity and more.

The tentative lineup of participants includes:

● Cape May County Zoo: Small Animal Petting Zoo

● Wetlands Institute: Marine Life “Touch Tank” Exhibit

● O.C. Environmental Commission: Recycling Arts and Crafts

● Ocean City High School Student Environmental Association: Free Seed Giveaway of Plants That Attract Butterflies

● Ocean City Free Public Library: Free Nature and Environmental Take-Aways

Other exhibitors will include the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, ACT Engineers, Ameri -

and the Destroyers have rocked the region for decades with a high-energy bluesy show and hits like “Bad to the Bone” and “I Drink Alone.”

Tickets for all three shows go

Monday, August 21 – 7 p.m.

On Sale Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.

George Thorogood & The Destroyers

The Remembering Jamie Foundation presents 23rd annual 'Italian Dinner Night'

The Remembering Jamie Foundation is celebrating its 23rd annual 'Italian Night Dinner' Saturday, Feb. 25, 4-8 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Egg Harbor Township. The event celebrates the life of Jamie Crescenzo and is a fundraiser for the Jamie Crescenzo Memorial Fund that to date has given out more than 60 scholarships to local students.

Jamie Crescenzo lost her life tragically in a car accident on February 18, 2000. Jamie was only 20 years old at the time, was an Egg Harbor Township High School graduate and a full time student at Atlantic Cape Community College. She was on her way to work that morning when extreme weather conditions hit.

Jamie’s parents, Jim and Margaret Crescenzo quickly establish the Remembering Jamie Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, as a way to honor Jamie’s life. “It is a reflection of everything that was important to Jamie,” says Jim Crescenzo, “family, friends, community and education.”

The Remembering Jamie Foundation gives multiple scholarships

each year to Egg Harbor Township High School graduates, Atlantic Cape Community College and Stockton students. It also gives out grants to community organizations including the Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League, Covenant House and Atlantic County Adopt a Road.

Through the years, Jim and Margaret have been able to see the recipients of the Remembering Jamie Foundation scholarships grow and achieve their dreams. Many keep in touch and appreciate the investment in them that the Remembering Jamie Foundation provided.

“More than the money, it is the vote of confidence that matters the most to the students,” says Jim Crescenzo “It’s like someone saying ‘Hey, I believe in you.” Jamie Crescenzo, in only 20 years, touched a lot of lives. “She would do anything for anyone,” says Jim Crescenzo, as he described a time when Jamie purchased gifts for a coworker’s children because they were struggling financially. Jamie was a member of her High School Key Club and the manager of the Girls Basketball team. She worked hard to pay her tuition and understood the value of both education and community. If you would like more information or to purchase tickets to the upcoming Italian Night Dinner, go to www. rememberingjamie.org

Super Bowl kicks off the spring real estate market

Real Estate Matters

By Elisa Jo Eagan

As we enter 2023 with our goals and New Year’s resolutions, we are keeping warm and toasty in the cold weather with an exciting football season coming to a dramatic close.

With the grand finale of our own Eagles securing the National Football Conference Championship and now going on to the Super Bowl, this brings us hope as we are one step closer to spring.

The weather may be cold outside, but the real estate market is at least warm, and in many cases, hot.

When assessing whether to put your home on the market, many believe and statistics show, that springtime is the best time to get your plan into action to get ahead of the game.

Real estate is often compared to a sporting event. We are now in the “first quarter of the game,” and the first quarter of the year.

The dynamics of the market are always changing. Currently, the local housing inventory in the areas of Northfield, Linwood, Somers Point, Egg Harbor Township, Mays Landing - all Mainland communities, and Ventnor, Margate, Longport - all shore communities of Atlantic County and in Ocean City, Upper Township and in the surrounding areas in Cape May County, we are experiencing an inventory shortage. “Slim Pickens - high demand and low inventory.”

Now is the time to optimize the sale price of your home. There are buyers that are ready, willing, able, qualified and waiting on the sidelines to purchase, and will pay you top dollar for your home. The fact is if you want to cash in, now is the time.

Be mindful, the dynamics of the real estate market are always changing, and even though the interest rates have risen since this time last year in 2022, the interest rates are now settling down as we enter this new year.

Economic indicators for 2023 remain strong and will get reviewed

each quarter when the Federal Reserve meets.

With the recent stock market changes, interest rates on the 30-year fixed mortgages, even though higher, are still overall in the historically low category.

There are still many incentives and first-time home buyer loan programs and grant moneys that are available, to qualified buyers, as well as 100 percent financing for qualified veterans.

Area monthly rent prices have escalated and are in many cases, higher than your monthly mortgage payment will be, so it is time to get preapproved for your mortgage before the perfect home comes up for sale on the market. You want to be ready.

Once the Super Bowl has ended, the official kick off to the spring real estate market begins.

This February and spring market is heating up and the first quarter is strong. Even though we may get some snow on the ground, real estate is alive and well. Now is the time to buy or sell.

Ask the Real Estate Godmother to help you and to be on your team to get you to the Finish Line to achieve your real estate goals.

Congratulations to our own 177th Fighter Wing for the awesome flyover at this week’s game. Thank you for your service!

Go Eagles and Fly Eagles Fly!

Much love to everyone this Valentine’s Day. Love one another.

With hugs, love and warm regards…

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!"

Cozy Winter Books For Curling Up By the Fire

By Sarah Fertsch Staff Writer

Ilove winter. Oversized sweatshirts, wool socks, snowboarding trips, and hot chocolate in handmade mugs make the season special. While most might say that the best place to read is on the beach, I think that winter is the perfect time to crack open a new book.

Of course, there are major differences between a summer beach read and a winter book. February is the best time to read a heavier novel with serious undertones, like a hearty stew (and summer is for light reading, like a fruit salad).

From nonfiction to historical fiction to self-help, here are ten excellent winter reads:

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Everyone loves an underdog sports story. The bestselling Backman brings us a comeback to root for. Beartown’s junior ice hockey team is about to play the championship, and the town’s reputation lies in the hands of reckless teenage boys. A violent act against a young girl is exposed, and the dark secrets of Beartown might tear the community apart before a pivotal win can bring them together.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

When an influential couple ties the knot on a remote island in Ireland, trouble ensues. Readers will love jumping between narrators like the best man, wedding planner, bride, and plus-one. The creepy yet beautiful island becomes a character itself, and

begs the question, “Which guest is a murderer?”

Band of Brothers

by Stephen E. Ambrose

It’s 1942, and a gaggle of American young men join the Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army. Ambrose details their basic training experience, D-Day arrival on the battlefield, and capture of Hitler. This read is perfect for history lovers, members of the Greatest Generation, or anyone desperate for camaraderie.

The Emperor of All Maladies by

Siddhartha Mukherjee

This is a biography of cancer, literally. The author, an oncological researcher, uses everyday language to explain the history of the disease and

attempts to cure it. A complex topic is handled with care, interwoven with personal stories of cancer patients and survivors. Prepare to be moved.

One by One by Ruth Ware

Eight coworkers travel to a ski chalet for a company retreat, unexpectedly snowed in and stuck sitting by the rustic fire. By the end of the weekend, how many coworkers will be left? No one can be trusted, and survival trumps teamwork and collaboration. Ware’s suspenseful thriller will make your jaw drop.

The Nineties

by Chuck Klosterman

Do you miss Seinfeld, Kurt Cobain, and the Clinton/intern drama? For many of us, the nineties were our glory days, and Klosterman transports us back in time to simpler days. More importantly, you’ll learn about the crucial steps toward racial reconciliation, Middle Eastern revolution, technological evolution and films that changed the world. You’ll laugh and awe at this well-written book of historical essays.

Thank You for Listening

by Julia Whelan

Romance lovers, this fun romp will help you escape from the cold, gray days. An actress-turned-audiobook narrator meets a charming stranger at a book convention in Las Vegas. The two most-popular literary voices

find intimacy, love and companionship an unexpectedly-sweet story.

Saturnalia by Stephanie Feldman

This urban fantasy takes place in Philadelphia at some point in the near future. It follows Nina, a former member of the Saturn Club and her strained relationship with Saturnalia, an ancient roman festival similar to Mardi Gras. Why did Nina leave all her closest friends and give up a career? What mysterious errand was she asked to run?

Transmuted by Eve Harms

If Stephen King is your fave, you’ll love this body-horror, modern-gory tale. Isa is a micro-influencer who happens to be transgender. A miracle-worker doctor offers face-feminization surgery and Isa can’t say no. The gruesome results are irreversible, and transform Isa from beauty icon to supermutant. You won’t believe what follows!

Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

Vulnerability expert Brene Brown explores almost ninety emotions in her latest book and helps readers navigate their internal interpretations of their world. Brown literally offers a map to guide everyday folks through their unique stories, and helps each individual rewrite their narrative. If you want to be moved into beauty and action, look no further.

March 4

May 6

June 3

July 8

September 9

November 4

8 AM to 1 PM

ACUA Environmental Park

6700 Delilah Rd

Egg Harbor Twp, NJ

Many household products contain hazardous chemicals that cannot be placed in your regular trash can, such as antifreeze, cleaning chemicals, oil-based paint, stains, varnish, weed killer, lithium-ion batteries and more. Dispose of these items safely at our drop-o s!

Remembering Jerry Blavat, the ‘Geator with the Heater’

in line outside to get into Memories continues to grow.

Memories Rock the Shore Area

By Donald B Kravitz

“Greetings and salutations from the boss with the hot sauce, from the Geator with the heater” echoes Jerry Blavat. Standing on his bandstand looking out over the packed dance floor, Blavat sings and sways in time to the music, just like those who fill his club Memories in Margate to capacity.

Blavat has never formatted music and used no music sheet, “I play music that I have done for years. My audience knows what they like and over the years, I have learned to listen to them … that is why they are here,” Blavat said emphatically. Proof of his popularity showed by the fact that although the time is 12:45 A.M., the people waiting

Blavat recalls with a smile, the lucky opportunity that brought him and Memories together, ” Buying Memories was an accident, just a lucky chance of fate. Memories was known as the Elbow Room back in 1971, and I had a band called The Geator and The Geator Men. We were booked into the club in September of 1971 as the house band. Every night, the club was packed, I mean to the rafters, the crowds were enormous” said Blavat. The Elbow Room became a “Blockbuster Club” Blavat adds.

“After that smash summer ended, the group running the Elbow Room took off before the 1972 summer season and went to Florida. The owners of the Elbow Room approached me and said, “We do not know anything about running a club . . . how about you buying it?” Having an astute business sense, Blavat agreed to buy the club, “I had seen how well the club was doing while we were playing there, so I jumped at the chance, and took over ownership in the summer of 1972, of what is now Memories. Since I bought it, we have

Say It With Candy

not changed the format one iota.”

“I have been so fortunate and so blessed, I have been in this business forty years, and lucky enough to be able to make a living at show business.”

Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Blavat began his show business career at the early age of 13, when he and a group of other Philadelphia teenagers started dancing on the Original Bandstand. At the age of 16, Blavat took on the role as Road Manager for Danny and The Juniors who had a hit record called At The Hop. It was during that same period that Jerry Blavat met a comedian named Don Rickles and became his personal valet.

In 1959 Blavat started his own talk show on WCAM-AM in Camden, New Jersey. According to the Geator; on a snowy night in January 1960, he pulled out a stack of records and entertained listeners throughout the night starting the legend of “The Geator.”

With radio under his belt, Blavat tackled television. From 1967 – 1970 Blavat had a television show called “The Discophonic Scene” which was syndicated through Triangle Publications and seen coast to coast in forty markets. Blavat has not only been a local personality but has appeared on The Tonight Show, and television shows like The Mod Squad and The Monkees and films such as Desperately Seeking Susan, Baby, It’s You and Cookie.

Blavat did not take his success lightly, “I am a very fortunate guy, in as much as what I have and what I have been able to accomplish comes from hard work but it is also a gift from God.”

Over the years, Memories has seen its share of stars that Blavat has grown up with as a part of his role in the music industry. “Little Anthony and the Imperials, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, The Righteous Brothers and many other stars drop into Memories when they are appearing in Atlantic City or Philadelphia. On any given summer weekend, Memories attracted about one thousand or so guests moving in and out of the club. Blavat had some strong ideas about how to treat the public and how the public should act.

“I learned growing up in South Philadelphia that you should always extend yourself with warmth and caring. I treat a person who comes to Memories as if they were coming to see me, I welcome them as a part of my family” remarked Blavat. Memories, according to Blavat is, “A meeting place designed for people who want to see their friends and have a good time. We have Doctors,

Lawyers, Politicians and tourists of all age groups, mingling together in a fun atmosphere . . . it is the most unique club in America!” When people come to Memories, Blavat wanted them to have a good time. His philosophy was to run the club like “the people are a guest in my home. There are rules on how people are expected to act while a guest in someone’s home, I carry those rules over to Memories. We turn people away who are not properly dressed or look like they may have had too much to drink. We want a club where people can feel good and be relaxed.”

Blavat stands behind his turntable, looking out at a huge banner that says “Hasta La Vista Baby”, extolling the fact that, “I’m spinnin’, and I’m groovin’ and keeping time to the music by clapping his hands at least a thousand times an evening”. Throughout the night, adoring fans came up to the platform and greet Blavat with warm affection, which he returned with a friendly smile . . . every now and then throwing a kiss. Blavat was happiest when he was on stage, “The reward I get is knowing that I am performing and making people happy”. As Operations Manager and the Afternoon Drive Personality at his namesake radio station, Geator Gold Radio, WSSJ-1310 AM, Jerry could be heard on weekdays and be seen hosting dance parties at various nightclubs in the Delaware Valley. No story would be complete without some Geator Wisdom, so the writer leaves you with … per the Geator, “Youth is a gift of nature, age is a work of art.”

Thousands attended Jerry Blavat’s Celebration of Life in Philadelphia today, January 28, 2023. Donald B. Kravitz

Eagles soar, on their way to Super Bowl

greased the city's poles for naught. No one would be doing any shimmying after a 24-20 Birds' loss.

By David Weinberg

“I wanna fly like an eagle, to the sea. “Fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me …” Steve Miller Band, 1976

It was an omen.

Driving along the Cape May Beachfront on Saturday, I spotted a crowd pointing cell phones toward the sky on the Boardwalk - it's a "Cape May Thing" - near the Cove. I pulled over, looked up, and saw a majestic bald eagle perched atop a pole. After a few minutes, he flew off toward the ocean, only to reappear a block away on a light fixture at Broadway Avenue.

That should have convinced me the Eagles were going to beat the 49ers in the NFC Championship game the next day.

Instead, I stuck with the Niners, believing that Philadelphia officials had

After all, eagles had been spotted all over Cape May/Lower Township in the last few months. My wife, Karen, and I saw two at the World War II lookout tower near Sunset Beach. Another one was spotted soaring over the trees along the 10th fairway at Cape May National Golf Club, which was the only birdie I encountered that day.

Was I supposed to bet on Temple after seeing a snowy white owl at the bay last spring?

I headed to Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Saturday night and plopped down $50 on the 49ers and Bengals to win Sunday and advance to Super Bowl LVII on February 12.

It wasn't long before I was tearing up my ticket.

Any chance the 49ers had of pulling off the upset disappeared in the first quarter, when Eagles pass rusher Hasson Reddick pried the football away from Niners rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, injuring Purdy's elbow in the process.

Enter fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson, who literally handed the Eagles a touchdown by botching

a snap before exiting the game with a concussion after a collision with massive defensive tackle Ndkamukong Suh.

The referees also did the Niners no favors with several questionable calls that drew some choice remarks from me while watching the game at home with my wife and our daughter, Ashley.

Karen and Ashley, as well as our son, Kyle, are Eagles fans and took great delight in my anguish.

Midway through the third quarter, I finished off my iced coffee and contemplated getting another drink. I was thinking of drowning my sorrows with a Margarita, but Ashley had another suggestion.

"Why don't you go out to the kitchen and get a bottle of 'Haterade?' she said.

Once Johnson was knocked out and Purdy was forced to re-enter, it was all over but the pole-climbing. As a result, the Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2017 season, where they will face former coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs in Arizona.

That's just perfect.

The last time the Birds reached the big game, it was played in Minnesota, which was about 100 degrees colder than Arizona. Think parkas instead of tee shirts, Uggs instead of flip flops, frozen faces instead of sun burn.

Super Bowl LII was also the site of one of my most embarrassing moments as a sports columnist.

On the day of the game, I boarded one of the earliest media buses at the Mall of America for the 20-minute ride to U.S. Bank Stadium. Ten minutes in,

I discovered that I was wearing the wrong credential, then found out the credential office at the Mall of America had closed and everything had been shipped to the University of Minnesota's Fieldhouse.

The bus driver let me off at an intersection in the middle of nowhere. I trudged through a snowdrift and crossed an icy road to a McDonald's, where I called Uber for a ride to the college. Upon arrival, I asked the driver, who spoke no English, to wait while I got directions to the fieldhouse. He nodded, then promptly sped away.

Thirty minutes later, I found my credential, then hitched a ride on a rickety school bus to the stadium. I arrived in time to watch Nick Foles and company pull off an amazing, 4133 victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots.

I caught a lot of grief back then for picking the Eagles to lose to the Vikings in the NFC Championship game, though I correctly predicted the Birds would beat the Patriots.

I haven't made up my mind about this one. I'm leaning toward the Chiefs, but that could change.

Especially if I spot another bald eagle.

The Chiefs’ offense features rookie running back Isiah Pacheco, a Vineland High School graduate.

Pacheco, who was a seventh-round draft pick for the Chiefs out of Rutgers University, rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries and caught five passes for 59 yards in Kansas City’s 23-20 victory over the Bengals Sunday. He also had a touchdown called back because of a holding penalty.

Pacheco rushed for 830 yards and five TDs while averaging 4.9 yards per carry during the regular season and caught 13 passes for 130 yards. He then gained 95 yards in the Chiefs’ divisional-round playoff victory over Jacksonville.

Super Bowl LII will also feature some interesting Eagles-Chiefs storylines.

As everyone and their brother knows by now, Eagles center Jason Kelce and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be the first siblings to face each other in the big game.

It might be their first meeting since they got together to serve as guest bartenders in Sea Isle City last June in order to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.

In addition, the Eagles will be facing the winningest coach in their history in Chiefs coach Andy Reid. “Big Red” was on the Birds sidelines for 14 seasons, guiding them to five NFC Championship game appearances and a Super Bowl appearance in 2004.

Local nonprofit organization aims to preserve the culture of black music

dream of creating a non-profit organization centered around Black music education.

By Krystle J Bailey

The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, created in 2018, exists to preserve the unique sound of African American music that influences the world of music as a whole. Founder and award-winning CEO Perry Thompson has spent his life not only enjoying Black music but working to educate others on the history and rich culture behind R&B, Soul, HipHop, and Jazz.

As a graduate of LaGuardia School of Music and Performing Arts with a concentration in Voice and Music, Thompson went on to work for a music company for a number of years. His deep love for musical artistry and the history behind various genres and musicians led him to his lifelong

Along with VP and COO Sonja Elise Freeman, the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society aims to promote the culture of black music while celebrating the artists who create it and honoring those who paved the way. This is done through story-telling on social media, seminars at local colleges, and the production of a curriculum that focuses on Black music and culture.

On his regular Instagram Live discussions, Thompson covers a variety of topics, including industry updates, music that impacted the Civil Rights Movement, holiday soul and contributions from African American artists, and the regular CEO corner segment.

The channel features spotlight series including Mothers in Music around Mother’s Day and Women in Music for Women’s History Month. Thompson has interviewed countless artists, producers, and songwriters, including Claudette Robinson, The British Ambassador of Soul Mr. David Nathan, 80’s R&B Legend Melissa

Morgan, and many more. When Thompson is not curating musically inspired conversations, he is contributing to various platforms, including Boss Up Magazine, BringBackSoulMusic. com, and SoulMusic.com. Additionally, Thompson and his team are working to create a curriculum that fosters a scholastic atmosphere conducive to the cultivation of music and artistic development. They currently are a licensed vendor for the Department of Education in New York and are working to bring Black music education into the public school system. That initiative is being expanded, as they are in the process of becoming licensed to bring the curriculum to New Jersey schools.

Thompson and the RBPS team are spearheading several projects this year in the local community, including college classroom tours and the production of Strength of a Woman: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute

Album and Documentary. Last year, Thompson presented a lecture at Stockton University in honor of the iconic singer Nina Simone’s 89th birthday. He looks forward to repeating the celebration for what would have been Nina Simone’s 90th birthday on February 21st, 2023 - the day that has been declared “Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society Day.” The organization received a proclamation for its official day in 2022 from Assemblyman Don Guardian. Details for the forthcoming celebration will be shared on the RBPS social media accounts.

Keep up with The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society on all social media platforms @RBPSOC.

Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.

Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5

Inflation and its effects on seniors

By Eric Reich

It’s hard to miss the headlines regarding inflation lately. It is the topic that has dominated the economic news since early 2022. Inflation affects all of us, but unfortunately for seniors, it affects them more than most. Living on a fixed income often allows for little wiggle room in budgets. With inflation having spiraled ever upward, it has become much harder for those on a fixed income to manage their finances.

The good news was that the Social Security increase for last year was 5.9%. The bad news is that inflation rose higher and faster than that. Retirees on average saw a monthly increase of around $93, while prices rose by approximately $135. That’s more than $500 per year of reduced purchasing power. For some, this can mean the difference between having to make choices about what to buy and what to forego.

One area seniors most often choose to cut back on in order to make ends meet is medication. If you are skipping doses to save money, I strongly encourage you to speak to your doctor. Many times drug companies can help with the cost of medicines if you are unable to pay for them. Seniors can also get assistance with things such as housing repairs, dental work, Pet Veterinary bills, etc. After medical, energy is typically the biggest expense for seniors. Hopefully with the slowdown of the economy comes a slowdown in energy prices. I expect prices to fall after spring.

Another way to cut expenses is to cut out the non-essentials such as subscriptions, extra cable TV channels, the extra nights of takeout dinners, etc. These non-essential expenses can easily add up to hundreds of dollars each month. Also consider paying bills annually instead of monthly. Often, monthly bills cost more than annual due to the cost of “handling” payments more often.

Want to save on utility bills? One of the best ways is to install programmable thermostats. Better yet,

if you have an unused room, consider turning the heat down or off in that room. For electric savings, unplug appliances that aren’t in use. Think toasters, coffee makers, etc. Even when these small appliances aren’t turned on, they are still drawing power. Negotiate with your cable provider for lower monthly bills. They frequently run specials for new customers, and you can request them too. Same goes for cell phone providers. Both are a great source of savings.

I hate buying cards. I can’t believe how much they charge for a birthday card. My mother-in-law will kill me for this one, but she reuses cards for birthdays and holidays and includes pictures from that year. It is not only a great money saver, but it is fun to look back over the years and see the changes in the pictures she includes.

This year, Social Security increased by 8.7% which is the largest increase in history. If inflation moderates which I expect it to somewhat, then this increase can hopefully provide real relief for seniors.

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 affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual 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 experience to help clients have an enjoyable retirement. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®) and has earned his Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations. A lifelong resident of Cape May County, Eric resides in Seaville, NJ with his wife Chrissy and their sons ,CJ and Cooper, and daughter Riley.

South Jersey Yacht Sales announces capital improvements

Set to break ground in early February with completion due by mid-November, plans call for a new 10,500-square-foot showroom with floor space sufficient to display boats from center console up to 60 feet long.

will provide an opportunity to learn more about equipment and service available from South Jersey Yacht Sales and its affiliates.

Business Buzz

By Rich Baehrle

South Jersey Yacht Sales has announced plans for capital improvements to its showroom and service area at 680 Bay Ave. in Somers Point.

George C. Robinson III, president and owner, said the improvements are a continuation of the company’s commitment to upgrade the 12-plus-acre facility after acquiring the site in late 2020.

“Our vision when we purchased the showroom and marina two years ago, was to upgrade the property and transform it into a state-of-the-art sales office and best-in-industry service center,” Robinson said.

The new showroom and corporate headquarters and other improvements will fulfill that goal, he said.

Customer parking will be located directly across from the new showroom. The design and engineering of the building will feature energy efficient mechanical, lighting, insulation, roofing and climate control systems. A specially heated flooring system for winter climate days will also be installed.

Additionally, 12 offices are planned for South Jersey Yacht Sales administrative and sales professional staff. Office space will also be provided for Dynamic Stabilizer Company, New Jersey’s authorized SeaKeeper sales and installation leader.

Video display boards for all boat lines including Albemarle, Invincible, Jupiter, Valhalla Boatworks, Viking Yachts and Yellowfin will allow clients to view all models at a glance.

Product display areas for Electrosea, SeaKeeper, Spot Zero, Release Marine, Yamaha and Mercury as well as equipment and services offered by Chart House Marine Electronics and Outfitting

In addition to the new showroom, several major capital improvements are planned for the service center and the marina. Among the upgrades to be completed over the winter is a thorough dredging of the entire 42-slip marina to accommodate larger vessels. New composite bulkheading and a new marina outer breakwater are also being installed.

A rebuild of the 24-by-75-foot liftwell has been completed to accommodate a 70 metric ton Travelift.

A new concrete forklift launch/haul pad has been completed and a remodeling of the service center office building includes the addition of a kitchen and a customer waiting lounge.

Other improvements either already completed or scheduled include a Boat Lift self-propelled remote operated trailer, and installation of new security cameras and lighting around the facility.

“Boaters in the Mid-Atlantic region recognize South Jersey Yacht Sales as the preferred lifetime source for premium recreational boats, unmatched

service, and support,” Robinson said. “These improvements to our facility in Somers Point will help us continue to be the leader in sportfishing yacht sales and service in the region for many years to come.”

For more information see www. southjerseyyachtsales.com.

Northfield Beach Buns which will soon be located at 1600 New Road. The creation of Christine Derias, it will offer delicious baked goods made from scratch plus fresh coffee from Revolution Coffee Company.

Christine has worked in the food business for many years. An avid baker, she decided to put her talents to work by creating a space where people feel welcomed and to bring joy through delicious baked goods with fabulous coffee. See beachbunsbakerynj.com or call 833-609-Buns

Rich Baehrle of Berkshire Hathaway Fox and Roach. Can be reached at 609226-6680 or 609-641-0011

richardbaehrle@gmail.com www.getrichinrealestateSJ.com

More super reasons to watch the Super Bowl

among the most talked about. But as far as dollar for dollar return, it’s often anyone’s guess.

Je ff's Journal

By Jeff Whitaker

The big day is less than two weeks away and for those of us in South Jersey there is even more reason to watch the Super Bowl this year. Even if you are not an Eagles fan or particularly fond of football in general, the Super Bowl is still a big excuse for most of us to gather with family and friends to socialize, eat, watch the game, eat and of course pause every few minutes for the commercials. It’s true that most Super Bowl “watchers” concentrate more or at least as much on the commercials as they do the game itself. We all watch with great anticipation to see who comes up with the most clever, memorable and creative ad. For the companies buying the ads, it’s a good thing so much attention is drawn to the tv given the price tag of a 30 second spot. This year, Fox announced weeks ago that they were already 95% sold out at a whopping $7 million price tag per commercial. That’s just to air the spot and doesn’t include the money it takes to produce some of these commercials. That figure can also easily run into the millions. It’s a huge gamble if the company is looking for a substantial return on their investment. Consider as well that many of the commercials you see during the game only run that one time. In the ad industry, there is a certain amount of bragging rights for those who find a commercial

To give you an idea of how big these “super” ad dollars have come, the first Super Bowl in January of 1967 saw a price tag of a paltry $37,500 per 30 second ad. How times have changed. It wasn’t until 1994 that prices climbed past the $1 million mark.

No doubt you remember a commercial or two that grabbed your attention, caused you to laugh or maybe even convinced you to try a product or service. According to superbowl-ads. com some of the most memorable ads belong to Budweiser and their famous Clydesdales. If you check out their website, you can look back at those ads and more over the years, ads that their staff feel stand out from the pack. I don’t know about you, but some of the ads seem to be so “creative” that I don’t even get what they are trying to sell. And on the other hand there are others that are so simple and void of the overuse of special effects that their message stands out in the crowd. One thing is for sure, in addition to the highlights of what we hope will be an Eagles victory, you can always count on a commercial or two to provide something more to talk about around the water cooler Monday morning.

Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com

Spatz’s final curtain call came way too soon

to tell me Bob Burns, another local legend who helped me get started in radio, died at 70 years old.

70 years old!

Spatz died at 71.

Way too young.

Cue the anger.

By Scott Cronick

When I heard the extraordinarily alarming news that my friend and media colleague David Spatz died last week, I would be lying if my first reaction was sadness. That came later.

It was anger.

Pure anger like I haven’t experienced in a very long time.

When my father died in a nursing home two years ago at 86 years old, sadness overcame me immediately, particularly since I watched him gasp for his last breath as COVID took him. When radio legend Pinky Kravitz died at 88 after an up-and-down health battle, I cried like a baby.

A father and a father figure gone.

The last time I remember feeling anger like the day I was told Spatz died was when former Longport Media President Dave Coskey called me

At one point in my life – like everyone when they are young – 71 seemed old. When you are in your 50s, 71 is right around the corner.

And Spatz – for whatever reason, I never called him “Spatzy” like so many of his friends did –had way more life to live … as did Bob Burns. As do so many people we say goodbye to way too soon.

My anger about David’s passing is normal, I guess. And I am sure as you get older, it’s a more common feeling. It’s not something I look forward to.

I am not sure what took David in the end, but I can tell you from someone who talked to and texted him regularly that while COVID wasn’t the cause of death, I think it contributed to it psychologically. Unlike my dad, who was directly killed by it, COVID had long-term effects on David and many others, including me. During COVID, I was massively depressed, gained quite a bit of weight and lost a lot of motivation. I am still digging out

of the mess it caused me personally.

David shared his thoughts on COVID every day. Even though newscasters stopped reading COVID numbers a long time ago, David would continue to read those numbers on his show every day. It was always on his mind. And although he had some other health issues, COVID, in my opinion, took some of David’s life away day after day. He didn’t come to any casino media events – at least to my recollection – since COVID. He told me that he rarely went anywhere. COVID took away his motivation to be social, to be around people, something that was an essential part of David’s entire life.

When I saw him around Christmas, he certainly didn’t look well. I asked him how he was, and he just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Meh.” I could tell he wasn’t the normal Spatz … hasn’t been for a while.

I couldn’t get him off my mind for days.

David and I had an interesting relationship. I could actually say there was an awkward time at the beginning of our relationship because I was the new entertainment/casino guy at The Press of Atlantic City right after he left The Press. That initial awkwardness turned into a great friendship as we sat together at more concerts, dinners and media nights than either of us could count. I told my wife the other day that other than her, my parents and son, I probably had dinner with David Spatz more than anyone else on the planet.

Our work – and passion for all things Atlantic City – made us friends, but we bonded through our stories about the industry and the city we loved, particularly his stories. No one liked to wax nostalgic more than David Spatz – well maybe fellow entertainment journalist Chuck Darrow – but David certainly loved talking about his encounters with the “greats” in the “good ’ol days.” I heard about his fishing trip with Tony Orlando a hundred times, but he always told it with the same enthusiasm as he was telling it to me for the first time. I loved when he talked about hosting the March of Dimes Telethon and the backstage stories with icons like Paul Anka. His eyes lit up when he would reminisce about “the old man” – Frank Sinatra – or when he used to freeze on the top of Resorts Casino Hotel for a New Year’s Eve show he hosted with the late, great Merv Griffin. And he and I really loved to swap stories about Tony Clifton, the Andy Kaufman/Bob Zmuda creation who confused audiences at the Atlantic City Hilton in 2010 with his raunchy, avantgarde schtick.

He would also light up when sharing stories about his family, daughter Erica Hoffman, son Jason Spatz and particularly his granddaughter Kayleigh. And if there was ever an example of how to get along with your ex-wife, his lifelong friendship with Sherry Hoffman was one for the ages.

When The Press eliminated my position last year, Spatz was one of the first people who “congratulated” me, telling me there was definitely life after The Press. And he was proof of that, too. His terrific interview series, “Curtain Call with David Spatz,” ran

for more than 200 episodes, was syndicated in 82 cities in North America and was the first and only program produced out of Atlantic City to win an Emmy Award. He didn’t do that alone, and he was the first to acknowledge his business partner and longtime friend Jake Glassey, Jr., for making that show look and sound as good as it did. When he mentioned Jake, it was always in reverence. Their friendship was as strong as any I have ever seen. Listening them do a special Sunday radio show about “The Walking Dead” during the height of its popularity was not only entertaining, but showed how much these two men really connected and loved each other. We all should be blessed to have a friendship like that in our lifetime.

Spatz was also instrumental in Coskey’s plan to return WOND to a “live and local” radio station. With Don Williams in the morning, the late Barbara Altman from 10-2, Burns from 1 to 3, me from 3 to 4 and Pinky from 4 to 6, Spatz anchored two new

shows at noon and 6 p.m., providing the area with much-needed local news after WMGM TV-40 went dark.

And Spatz loved every minute of it. His connections to everyone in the area allowed him to break news regularly, often faster than an entire newsroom at The Press. And damn, did he love being the first one to get big news out, often breaking into my show or the other WOND shows, for a breaking news report.

When Pinky passed and I was honored by his family to take the 4-6 spot, some of my most memorable times with Spatz came when he would mosey into the studio around 5:30 p.m. to kill time before his show by chatting with me. I would generally let him take over as he would have some interesting news of the day, or I would encourage him to share those stories that he often told me over dinner. I thought everyone should hear those stories.

And, eventually, so did David. In his final chapter, his noon to 2 p.m. show

would often replay “Curtain Call” interviews, and he even put together a stage show that would do just that: Share great entertainment tales that included clips from his Emmy Award-winning series. He presented the show locally and had plans to tour it around Florida during the winter months, but COVID killed its progress.

I often told David he had a book in him. And if you listened to his stories as many times as I did, he probably had two to write. He told me that he wrote some pages here and there, but he never got it all together.

That’s a shame for all of us.

Because no one told a story better than David Spatz.

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.

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Raise your puppies one at a time

of the other. The goal is for the puppies to bond with you, the human.

By Heidi Clayton

One mistake I sometimes see new puppy owners make is adopting siblings. While this may seem like a fun idea, would be newby puppy owners should know that in most cases, adopting littermates is a bad idea. Here's the serious considerations you need to mull over.

Housebreaking two puppies, feeding two puppies and training two puppies is a ton of work. Consider the following when thinking of getting two puppies at once:

I don't know any decent breeders who will let you take littermates. While there are no current studies that address what is called “littermate syndrome,” even breeders who are quite capable of raising littermates know the difficulties of doing so. Littermate syndrome may or may not be real, but what is commonly seen is there is a bully amongst the siblings, which can lead to real problems. And there is zero guarantee that as they grow they will continue to get along.

One of the biggest reasons I hear people use to justify getting littermates is that the puppies will keep each other company and they will learn from each other. Never assume that one puppy is going to teach another puppy anything of value. It is always the opposite.

When someone says a pair of puppies is bonded, you should see a giant red flag. Puppies that are already hyper-bonded to each other and showing signs of separation anxiety should not be left to stay together so they can only function in the presence

Since we speak a totally different language than dogs, having to devote the time to bonding with two puppies who already value their relationship with the other more than you, is a massive undertaking. Done incorrectly and you will have two puppies that struggle to settle or have full-blown separation anxiety.

Before committing to two puppies, think if you can give them everything they need. Most of my clients have limited time to train one puppy while also getting on with the regular business of life. Consider these questions:

Do you have the space at home to crate them in separate rooms so they don’t develop separation anxiety?

Can you devote enough time to play with each puppy separately? That includes walking them and socializing them out in the world apart from each other and not always being together.

The bottomline is, when adopting or getting littermates you are doing them a huge disservice if you let them have each other all the time. If you can’t devote the time to working with each puppy every single day, separately and away from the other, I highly recommend that you avoid getting in over your head.

Several of my clients adopted two littermates because each of their children wanted their own puppy. Think long and hard about caving to this request as every single family that did this really struggled.

Not that they don’t love their puppies, but the good intentions of the parents to instill lessons in the children regarding taking care of a puppy got lost in the daily grind of sports, activities and homework. All of the parents ended up being the sole caregivers to the littermates and were simply overwhelmed.

In hindsight, a better plan is getting one puppy and dividing up chores and responsibilities for care and training.

Pro Football Teams Named After

609-645-0500

SUDOKU Solution on page 62

ACROSS

THEME: SUPER BOWL

1. *Starr of Super Bowl I and MVP

5. Epsom or Evian-les-Bains

8. Mexican money

12. Gulf V.I.P.

13. Biblical pronoun

14. Competitive musher, e.g.

15. Saintly glow

16. From the sky and often damaging

17. Early anesthetic

18. *Halftime show performer

20. Photo editing option

21. T. S., poet

22. Chi forerunner

23. *Team with most consecutive Super Bowl appearances

25. Swindles

29. Even, to a poet

30. Slanting characters

33. Cough syrup balsam

34. Travels by air

36. "What's up ____?", asked by Bugs Bunny

37. Southeast Asia org.

38. German currency

39. Wb, pl.

41. 9 to 5, e.g.

42. Substitute, two words

44. Express a thought

46. Hitherto

47. Winter "fever"?

49. Brown on "Doctor Who"

51. *He has most Super Bowl appearances as a coach

55. Plural of #38 Across

56. Norse deity

57. Joie de vivre

58. *3-time Super Bowl champ, Russ

59. Pasturelands

60. Ready for picking

61. Black and white treat

62. *Another form of Super Bowl entertainment

63. Command, with "at"

DOWN

1. Thai currency

2. Wet nurse

3. Rub the wrong way

4. Gardener's little helper

5. British soldier's parade hat

6. *P in PAT

7. "____ Lang Syne"

8. *Team with most Super Bowl appearances

9. Reverberating sound

10. Slowly leak

11. NHL great

13. Opposite of atheist

14. Short version

19. ____ Island off Manhattan

22. Nervous twitch

23. Knockout

24. Below, prefix

25. *Player with most Super Bowl points scored

26. Warm down-slope wind

27. Distress signal

28. Phoenix team

29. Flock members

31. Port of Yemen

32. Tennis shot

35. *Jim Nantz's partner

37. Savory jelly

39. A must for a comedian

40. Williams and Wright

43. Natural theology

45. Answer to "Where are you?", two words

47. Surrendered land

48. Spy's other name

49. Feline vibration

50. Albany-Buffalo canal

51. Cowboy's necktie

52. Pelvic parts

53. Big letters

54. Proposal joint

55. "I" mania

See Solution on Page 62

Jon Spencer and the HITmakers

industrial noise.”

By Doug Deutsch

Jon Spencer has been called an “indie-punk blues legend,” and that sounds about right.

Spencer, a supremely talented guitarist-singer-songwriter will bring his latest musical incarnation, the HITmakers, to the Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City this Friday, Feb. 3.

He has either played in or fronted a number of memorable groups including Boss Hog, in which he played in with his wife Cristina Martinez, and once signed to Geffen Records; the Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash and Pussy Galore, the latter being a garage-rock band whose first album I remember receiving to review from Caroline Records in the mid-1980s.

We caught up with Spencer last week during his tour, which had him playing in Montreal that night, and asked about the HITmaker’s sound.

“I would describe it as rock ‘n’ roll, but perhaps I have a slightly different definition of the term from most people,” said Spencer, 57. “I believe that rock ‘n’ roll is a strange, beautiful and somewhat dangerous artform, and the HITmakers try to present the best form of that by combining elements of blues, rockabilly, punk rock, and

Joining Spencer in the HITmakers are Sam Coomes (vocals, synthesizers); Andy Zammit on drums and percussionist Bob Bert, of whom Spencer glowingly says, “Bob Bert plays trash on all of the HITmakers songs. Sometimes swinging two hammers. His drum kit is assembled from the finest pieces of scrap metal and old car parts.”

Spencer is also known for reviving interest in blues legend R.L. Burnside, who started touring and working with The Blues Explosion in the mid-1990s, which greatly revitalized Burnside’s career. Coomes and Bert appear on Jon’s latest album, “Spencer Gets It Lit.”

Bert also spent time with the great New York-noise rock group, Sonic Youth.

Spencer’s influences are, in his words, 60s garage punk as found on compilations like “Back From The Grave,” along with more well-known groups like The Seeds, The Chocolate Watchband, The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, The Music Machine, French Ye-Ye, even The Rolling Stones.

“Atlantic City seems like a swinging place. I once saw Tom Jones there in the early 90s. I hope to be able to bring some of his fire to the Anchor Rock Club.”

Opening for Jon Spencer and the HITmakers are The Bobby Lees, a fun, noisy foursome from Woodstock, N.Y. fronted by the hard-rock female growl of vocalist-guitarist Sam Quartin, who also acts with a role in new horror film, “Candy Land.”

The Bobby Lees have played The Caines in Tulsa, where Quartin now lives, and where others such as The Sex Pistols made their mark on pop culture. They’re new to me, but I’m now a fan.

I’m looking forward to the Spring 2023 Exit Zero Jazz Festival, May 5-7 at the Cape May Convention Hall Main Stage, on 714 Beach Ave. in Cape May.

The tasty lineup includes Samara Joy, Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra; Carlos Henriquez: Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez Centennial Celebration, Orrin Evans' Philly Jawn vs. Adonis Rose New Orleans All-Stars, all in a beautiful shore setting. Credit to promoter Michael Kline for being able to present shows of this quality.

Three different types of three-day passes can be purchased at https:// www.exitzerojazzfestival.com/tickets.

On Friday, Feb. 17, just in time for Mardi Gras, Exit Zero presents renowned zydeco player Terrance Simien in concert at the Congress Hall Ballroom, also in Cape May. That should be fun.

Band(s) Of The Week: Rage Against The 90s features three of the area’s best tribute acts – Know Your Enemy (Rage Against The Machine tribute); Lounge Act (Nirvana); and Penntera (Pantera tribute). Anchor Rock Club, Friday, Feb. 10. Info/tix: https://www.tixr.com/groups/anchorrockclub/events/rage-againstthe-90-s-51879.

A large, warm wave of love came over the Anchor Rock Club last Saturday at the Celebration of Life for Paul Glaser. Not only did virtually everyone associated with the WLFR 91.7 FM Lake Fred Radio station attend, many of whom took the stage to tell their individual, unique interactions with

Glaser through the years. There were past and present WLFR deejays such as present-day staples Johnny Fones and Bob Portella; from the past, Nancy J (who brought along brother Paul Juestrich, formerly of Philly hardcore legends Deadspot and now playing guitar in rising Philly hardcore group The End AD).

Various members from some great area bands, both past and present, did short but mighty threesong sets, including Chumlee (with two keyboards), Stokes Street, The Callow Gentry, Kielbossannova, Malcolm Tent with 1adam12, Adam Berardo; members of Noise Museum and long ago, The Improbables; Dear Darkhead; and Cigar Box Stompers.

Performers included Sara Holt (Molly Ringworm), Bongo Dave, Bill Bengle, John Menzel, Tim Nolan, William LaPeze, Desi Berardo, Kevin Murphy, David Reis, JS Grites, Dan Walker, Eric Festentine, Paul More’, Brent Simonsen, Kevin Harrington and Rob Weiss.

Kudos to local musician Niko Berardo from AC’s Bare Bodkin; and Sherry Glaser, Paul’s sister-in-law, for assembling such a special tribute.

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.