SHORE LOCAL | Brigantine | June 8, 2023

North to Shore Festival Descends Upon AC

Taco Tuesday Challenge: "Bring It On LeBron"

LPGA Golf Swings into Town

Scenes from Beer Fest, Greek Fest

Live Music Comes Out To Play

Redefining the good life

What mattered more than anything was the relationships. It was never the house, car, or latest fashion. The best moments were centered around the people I loved and connected with.

What makes a good life?

From the Editor

As I look back at the last several decades of my life, I recall the invisible checklist I had in my mind that I just knew would equate to happiness. I truly believed that my happiness could only be found in checking off enough of these imaginary boxes.

After college, diving headfirst into the real world, the checklist included my career, my marriage, the house I’d buy, and how many children I’d have. In my 30s, the list evolved to include an even bigger house, a dog, a new car, the latest gadget, and so on.

By the time I reached my 50s, I had a lot of boxes checked. I’m very thankful for my home, my husband, our business, and our beautiful children. Looking back though, I can see that this checklist was nothing more than a ridiculous pressure I put on myself and those around me.

"The Good Life" by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Schultz, Ph.D., tells the story of a Harvard study of thousands of lives over eight decades and three generations. Beginning in 1938, the study has tracked individuals and their families, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements from brain scans to blood work with the goal of discovering what really makes people happy.

Through all the years of studying these personal stories, strong relationships stand out for their impact on physical health, mental health, and longevity. Waldinger and Schulz boil it down to one simple thought:

“Good relationships keep us happier and healthier."

As it turns out, happiness does not correlate with income, status, power, or conformity. Rather, happiness is dependent on social connections and the quality of relationships.

It's no wonder so many strug-

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, Scott Cronick, Dan Skeldon, Tammy Thornton, Rich Baehrle, Steffen Klenk, Donald B. Kravitz, Fred Miller, Krystle J. Bailey, Brian Cahill, Dave Weinberg, Doug Deutsch, Elisa Jo Eagan, David Setley, Heidi Clayton, Eric Reich, Keith Dawn, Whitney Ullman, Raymond Tyler, Tim Hawk, John Loreaux, Danielle Davies, Bill Quain Mainland, & Shore, Brigantine cover photo taken from Atlantic City Steel Pier by Marc Berman. Ocean City edition cover taken by Offshore Drones. or

staff

gled during the pandemic with mental health. Forced isolation, remote work, and school with a lack of face-to-face interactions are the exact opposite of what humans need to thrive.

I am so thankful to be engaging in social activities once more, both personally and professionally. Sometimes I run into someone that I feel like I know well online but have not yet met in person. Putting a face and a personality to a profile picture or email persona means so much. It makes relationships more meaningful and lasting.

We have heard A LOT about AI (artificial intelligence) recently. Where does this fit into our lives?

AI may be able to make our lives easier, completing mundane tasks and complementing the creative process, but AI can only take us so far. The human connection is the piece of the puzzle that is irreplaceable and makes all the difference.

At Shore Local, we thrive on the relationships, connections, the "humanness" that keep us inextricably connected. Whether it is attending a school event for a very special boy (page 13), meeting with students who won national recognition (page 24), sitting down with new businesses owners ( The Paint Place, page 18), or catching up with legendary business owners (Gregory's, page 54), AI can neVeR replace that.

The connections and relationships that we have made at Shore Local are at the core of what we do and who we are. We are committed to maintaining that no matter how much new technology is thrown our way.

This week I challenge you and myself to create new connections and strengthen existing relationships. At the end of the day, those we love and interact with are always what matters most.

Peace & Love, Cindy

Cover photo of Carter Doorly by Dawn Doorly.

Is our smoky spring a sign of things to come?

only a few hundred acres, did threaten some homes before being contained.

Weather

By Dan Skeldon

Replace hazy, hot, and humid, three alliterative weather words that usually become quite common starting in June, with hazy, dry, and smoky. Sure, you lose the alliteration. But the latter is definitely more applicable here in South Jersey of late, from our drought last fall to renewed dryness and a protracted and active wildfire season this April, May, and June.

Instead of delivering heat and humidity, the first weekend of June brought two late-in-the-season wildfires, one in the Bass River State Forest that burned over 5,000 acres and also necessitated the closure of roads, including the Garden State Parkway. Ash accumulated on some cars and patio furniture, and the sight and smell of smoke lay heavy in the late spring air. Another fire in Burlington County near Medford, while

And then there was a nearly 4,000 acre wildfire in Ocean County back in April that made national headlines as well. For every fire, firefighters fought heroically over days to knock down the flames and extinguish the blaze. And from South Jersey to Southern Canada, they always fight the good fight, and it’s truly amazing what they accomplish.

All of these fires are in part fueled by the dry conditions, brisk winds, and low relative humidity that have all been present in combination more so than usual. And if extended windy and dry stretches become more common as a result of our changing climate, more intense fire seasons could result. It’s true that a warming climate is in theory a wetter one, with floods more likely than drought in our small corner of the world. But an occasional dry spell or drought, perhaps more pronounced or extended than normal, could in theory lead to worse fire seasons ahead.

Of course, brush and forest fires are a natural annual occurrence in the Pinelands, over one million acres of natural, largely undeveloped land, the largest such tract of land in the otherwise heavily developed northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston. And not only are they expansive, but explosive as well. The pitch pines and shrubby oaks that make up much of the Pinelands, anchored in acidic and sandy soil, contain a high amount of potentially explosive fuel that any fire can utilize to burn hot and spread rapidly.

Perhaps one of the more notable examples was in the spring of 1963, one of the driest on record. Multiple April fires throughout the Pinelands burned over 180,000 acres, destroyed almost 400 structures, and took seven lives. Of course, there is much more development in specified corridors of the Pinelands now, and similar conditions today would prove much more destructive.

Controlled burns and forest management are a good way to play defense, as is extreme caution with outdoor flames any time of the year, no matter how dry or wet the weather pattern is. And the more defensible space around your home, anywhere from 30 to preferably as much as 100 or more feet of largely open and forest-free space near your home, is a particularly important preventive measure that Pinelands homeowners can undertake. But as beautiful and as much of a treasure the Pinelands are to South Jersey, the fire danger contained within should always be respected.

now it’s not just South Jersey that is having a smoky spring this year. Our neighbor to the north, Canada, is having one of their worst starts to wildfire season on record. Large forest fires in Alberta in western Canada have been sending a constant plume of smoke and haze that has shrouded much of the Great Lakes

and northeast throughout May and June. And it’s not only the prairie provinces of western Canada, but the maritime provinces in the east, like n ova Scotia for instance, that have seen a fast and furious fire season this spring, sending smoke and haze west across the Atlantic in our direction. And most recently, smoke from fires in Quebec are riding brisk northerly winds down Route 9 from u pstate n ew York and right into South Jersey. This is mostly high altitude haze, usually seen but not smelt near the ground. But if the smoke is thick enough and the atmosphere mixed enough, there can be a smoky smell near the ground and air quality issues for the most sensitive too.

And let’s not forget the traditionally active Western united States as well. Due in part to current weather patterns, not to mention some record rain and snow this winter and early spring, things are comparatively quiet from the Rockies on west at last check. That serves as a nice reminder that our changing climate doesn’t mean that everyone is going to burn, or flood, or be blown away by a hurricane. However, forest fire season across n orth America has turned more intense in the past few decades, and hazy skies from distant fires, or ash and a smoky smell from nearby fires, are a more common occurrence now than in year’s past, or so it seems. In my evening television weathercasts this spring, I’ve been frequently using our smoke tracker to track where plumes of high altitude smoke are forecast to travel in the coming days. Meanwhile, our future satellite/radar product has had little rain to track, with little in sight, at least through the first 10 days of the month, perhaps longer.

So time will tell if those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer will need to have smoky worked in this year or in years to come.

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

The Steadman Group Has YOU Covered..

Farmers Markets

..From Mystic Island to Ocean City!

Brigantine Farmers Market

▶Saturdays from 8am-12pm

Brigantine Community School

parking lot Sheridan Blvd.

The Brigantine Farmers Market will be open to customers this Saturday and will run every Saturday, rain or shine, until Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/brigantinefarmersmarket.

EHT Community Farmers Market

▶Saturdays from 9am-12pm

Atlantic Christian School 391 Zion Rd. egg Harbor Township

Open Saturdays starting July 1st. Just Organics Marketplace and Honeytree Health, along with Atlantic Christian School, host a Community Farmers Market on Saturdays in July and August, featuring a variety of local farmers, food vendors, artists, and crafters. For more information, visit thehoneytree.net or e-mail wellness@thehoneytree.net.

Galloway Green Market

▶Thursdays from 4-7pm

Adopt Me!

July 10th. For more information and to apply as a vendor, visit abseconlighthouse.org.

Margate Farmers Market

▶Thursdays from 8:30-11:30am

Steve and Cookies Parking Lot

9700 Amherst Ave. Margate

Open n ext Thursday, June 15th. The Margate Farmers Market opens next week. Markets will be open Thursdays through August 31st. For more information, visit margatehasmore.com.

Ocean City Farmers Market

▶Wednesdays from 8am-1pm

Ocean City Tabernacle Grounds

Asbury Avenue from 5th – 6th Streets

Open n ext Wednesday, June 21st. The Ocean City Farmers Market is back. See dozens of vendors, and crafters in the street at 6th & Asbury Ave. For more information, call 1-800-B e ACH- nJ or visit oceancityvacation.com.

Somers Point Farmers Market ▶Saturdays from 8am-12pm

Meet Piper!

Historic Smithville Village Greene 615 e . Moss Mill Rd.

For any questions please contact the Humane Society of Atlantic County at 609-347-2487

This beautiful female is a lab mix 3yr & 57lbs She came to us from our friends in Kentucky. She had been dumped with a bunch of other dogs and her puppies at that shelter. She is friendly, happy, and active girl that gets along well with other dogs She takes correction from dogs well, so is well suited to multiple dog households

Open Thursdays starting June 29th. Go Green Galloway hosts their weekly Green Market, Thursdays through September 7, featuring locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, handmade crafts, specialty breads and more. Visit gogreengalloway.org/greenmarket for information and updates.

Live Well AC Farmers Market

▶Tuesdays from 4-7pm

Absecon Lighthouse 31 S. Rhode Island Ave. Atlantic City

Open every Other Tuesday Starting July 10th. Absecon Lighthouse will host the Live Well AC Farmers Markets. enjoy Free Yoga at 6pm sponsored by The Leadership Studio, along with Vendors and Veggie Booths. Markets held every other Tuesday in July and August, starting

Somers Mansion 1000 Shore Rd. Somers Point Farmers Market has returned to Somers Mansion for 2023. For more information, go to visitsomerspoint.com.

Ventnor City Farmers Market ▶Fridays from 8:30am-12pm St. James Church n ewport & Atlantic Ave.

The Ventnor City Farmers Market is a most delightful place to shop every Friday throughout the summer. You’re greeted by friendly vendors who happily answer questions and offer up some market swag.

The parking lot at St. James Church brims with 60+ farmers, food vendors, and crafters who offer fresh, seasonal picks, delicious artisan foods, baked goods, beverages, and beautiful handmade wares. Open Fridays through September 3rd. Visit vcfm.org to see a complete list of vendors and sponsors.

Locals rally in support of Gregory's right to the NJ Taco Tuesday trademark

By Krystle J Bailey

Gregory Gregory, the owner of the iconic Gregory’s Restaurant in Somers Point, n J, isn’t backing down from what he calls a “David and Goliath” battle. In this particular story, Goliath happens to be the internation -

al taco chain Taco Bell.

Last month, Taco Bell filed a legal petition to cancel the decades-old federal trademark for “Taco Tuesday.” While Taco John’s owns the rights to the household phrase in 49 u.S. states, Gregory Gregory and his family own the trademark in n ew Jersey.

Gregory’s first trademarked the phrase in 1979 when Gregory Gregory pleaded with his family to let him put these newfound “tacos” he had discovered on the menu. The restauranteur noticed the demand in a Philadelphia food court and set out in pursuit of the perfect taco to serve at his restaurant.

When the family agreed to serve the new dish one day each week, Taco Tuesday was born, and the tacos quickly became a hot commodity in Somers Point. encouraged by a college professor, Gregory Gregory signed the documents giving him rights to the Taco

Tuesday trademark in 1982.

If approved, Taco Bell’s petition would cancel the existing trademark held by Gregory’s and Taco John’s so all restaurants could use the term

freely. In a recent marketing campaign, Taco Bell hired n BA star LeBron James as a spokesperson for Taco Tuesday. In the ad, LeBron states, “ everyone should be able to say and celebrate Taco Tuesday.”

Since Taco Bell’s announcement of their petition, Gregory’s has been booming with local support for Taco Tuesday, from baskets of tacos to Taco Tuesday t-shirts selling by the dozens. The legal battle is still pending, with outcomes to be determined.

“ n o matter how this goes, I’m going to make sure everyone in South Jersey knows that Taco Tuesday is at Gregory’s,” shares Gregory Gregory. “If it happens that everyone can use it, fine! I would love to see LeBron come down and talk to me about buying my Taco Tuesday. I think that could be quite the n BA Playoff of the century. They’re a big company; I’m just the little guy trying to make a living.”

‘It’s not too late to stop the ocean wind disaster’

By Seth Grossman Special to Shore Local

Six months ago most political, business, and community leaders in n ew Jersey were calling ocean wind turbines a good idea. Only a handful of ocean front homeowners, fishermen, and climate scare skeptics like me opposed them.

n ow it seems like most shore residents and visitors are against them. We are persuading politicians, the media, and people around n ew Jersey and the country to stand with us.

This change started when whales began to die. Since December, 11 whales and dozens of other marine mammals have washed up dead on n ew Jersey beaches. This happened when survey ships in the area were using sonar and ocean floor drilling to find suitable sites for wind turbines.

A traditional windmill turns a stone wheel to grind grain into flour. A wind turbine turns magnets around coils of wire to generate electricity.

Orsted and Atlantic Shores plan to build 400 giant wind turbines 9 miles off our beaches from Seaside Heights to Wildwood. e ach wind turbine would be 1,047 feet tall – twice as

high as the Washington Monument, and 400 feet taller than the Ocean Casino in Atlantic City.

These towers and their spinning blades would be clearly seen from every beach and boardwalk. So will their red blinking safety lights at night. Their noise would be heard for miles. Viewing the ocean horizon would be like looking at an industrial park, yet few people cared about this until the whales died.

Several federal and state agencies and environmental groups claim that these deaths have nothing to do with wind turbines. However, these same people blamed sonar tests for killing whales 20 years ago when petroleum companies used them to search for places to locate offshore oil rigs.

Whales and other marine mammals have very sensitive ears. They find their way underwater by making sounds that bounce off nearby objects. The truth that offshore wind proponents don’t want to admit is that loud explosions used in sonar tests hurt their ears and make marine mammals unaware of their surroundings. This often causes them to panic and swim into the beach or passing ships.

each of the 400 wind turbines will

cost roughly $10 million. That comes to $4 billion. They will also require years of dangerous and expensive repairs and maintenance at sea. Since wind turbines wear out after 25 years, more money will be spent to remove, replace, and safely dispose of them.

Many people and corporations stand to make huge profits from this. Many of them have already hired lobbyists and consultants. They have also made generous donations to political campaigns and “grants” to towns, colleges, community and environmental groups.

We will have to pay roughly two to three times more for electricity because of this. electric rates for businesses and government agencies will go up the most. We will pay in the form of higher taxes and prices. Residential electric bills paid by voters will probably see only small increases.

“Free” energy from wind is expensive because it’s wasteful.

Since the amount of energy produced is intermittent and cannot be controlled, there are times when too much is produced, meaning, greater than demand or more than the power grid can handle. When there is no market for the extra electricity, the

excess is “dumped” or discarded.

There will also be times when there is not enough wind and supplemental sources will be needed such as gss, oil, nuclear, or other fossil fuels to keep the lights on.

Wind turbines save very little fossil fuel because they need 100 percent backup. When wind slows down or stops, backup generators or other sources will be immediately needed to inject electricity into the grid.

This problem makes the threat of electricity shortages real as government and environmental groups continue to make it difficult for traditional power stations to operate by opposing pipelines (B.L. england), while hastening the transition to all-electric vehicles.

Also, electricity dumping from offshore wind turbines will happen because there is no battery system available to store it efficiently. We lack the technology and enough rare earth minerals to make batteries big enough.

How much wind energy will be dumped and wasted when it’s too windy? How much fossil fuel will be burned by backup generators when the winds don’t blow?

The Atlantic County u tilities Authority (ACuA) has had five wind turbines on its property in Atlantic City since 2006. To the best of my knowledge, they have never reported how much wind energy has been “dumped” from the project when it is produced when not needed. How much money and fossil fuel is wasted on backup generators when there is not enough wind?

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For years, the n ew Jersey Board of Public u tilities fooled the public into believing that “green” energy is profitable and pays for itself. It forces electric companies to pay top dollar for all electricity produced by wind turbines and solar panels, even when it is not needed. It also forces consumers to pay subsidies to the owners of wind turbines and solar panels.

n uclear power plants produce carbon-free electricity without these problems. They produce steady, reliable power 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. They are also far less expensive than wind turbines.

Additional reactors can easily be added to the existing nuclear power plant in Salem for far less than the cost of 400 unreliable wind turbines in the ocean. nuclear plants actually save fossil fuel. Wind turbines only pretend.

europeans are waking up to this. For the past 30 years, Germany invested in wind while France invested in nuclear. For years, cheap natural gas from Russia covered up the failures of Germany’s “ energiewende” green energy program. When the war in ukraine cut that natural gas, Germans chopped down trees for firewood and bought expensive nu -

clear electricity from France.

Most european countries are now slowing or stopping their wind energy programs. That is why a Danish company like Orsted is trying so hard to sell its wind turbines in America. Meanwhile, Communist China is building nearly two new coal power plants each week.

We still have time to stop offshore wind turbines in n ew Jersey. Both Orsted and Atlantic Shores need additional federal funds and guaranteed rate hikes to move forward with their projects.

Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew is working to get Republicans in the House of Representatives to make blocking n ew Jersey wind turbines part of any future budget deal. Several Democratic state senators and Assembly members are working with Republicans to block future state funding and rate increases to pay for the project.

To stop this project, Democrats and Republicans need to repeatedly contact their state and federal representatives of both parties to make their feelings known.

Seth Grossman is the president of LibertyAndProsperity.com. Email him at info@libertyandprosperity.com. He is an attorney with offices located at 453 Shore Road in Somers Point.

Faced with challenges, boy is celebrated by his peers

By Cindy Christy Fertsch

Nine-year-old Alessio Scuotto of Mays Landing has had more than his fair share of struggles, though you would never know it by the bright smile on his sweet face.

Alessio lives with an extremely rare and terminal cancer known as diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLG nT). Identified as a “distinct entity" by the World Health Organization, DLG nT affects an individual’s central nervous system and the lining of their brain. Over time, plaque begins to develop, and DLGnT causes the spine to harden. Alessio, who also lives with Cerebral Palsy, is one of the very few cases of reported DLG nT.

In spite of the physical conditions Alessio lives with, he spreads joy wherever he goes, including school. On the morning of June 1st, Alessio was celebrated by his teachers and classmates in an assembly complete with kind quotes presented by his Hess elementary School peers.

The gathering was a presentation to Alessio from Christian Chin's 5thgrade students. Together, the class created a Lego portrait of Alessio.

The students used a special computer program implemented as part of a STeM project. The class worked on it for approximately six weeks, collecting the necessary legos and utilizing inside-recess time to construct it.

“It was a perfect fit,” explains 5th-grade teacher Christian Chin in reference to his class’s

care and support him as well."

Alessio's n onno (Italian for grandfather), who was in attendance for the presentation, remarked, “He’s my hero,” referring to his nine-year-old grandson.

curriculum. Together, Alessio’s peers had just finished reading “Wonder,”

the story of a student with a disability who faces the challenges of school with a little help from his friends. each student chose a quote about kindness and came to the microphone to read it, then gave it to Alessio.

erica Gentile, Alessio's mom, provided custom t-shirts for each of the students with the Lego logo on the front and each student's signature on the back.

"Alessio has a team, a large group of adults that love and support him," said Mr. Chin. "But I wanted him to know he has a group of peers that

Sal owns Giuseppe's Gourmet in Seaville. He tells the story of Alessio’s return home from a hospital stay at five years old. With a feeding tube in place, Alessio would only want to eat his grandfather’s restaurant food, specifically breaded chicken with a side of bacon and fresh mozzarella. It's still on the menu today, known as the "Team Alessio Wrap." erica, Alessio's mom, is her son's champion and is committed to making the most of every day and every smile she gets.

"It's been a constant roller coaster with labs and chemo and scans, but when I see how kind the other kids are to Alessio, it really restores my faith that there is good in the world and my son is teaching others, always bringing out the best in them."

Alessio, along with his mom, Erica Gentile and grandfather, Sal Gentile

Events and Happenings

Multi-Day Events

Community Canvas Living Mural

Project

▶now – Sunday from 11am-4pm Hayday Coffee 155 S. new York Ave. Atlantic City

Join local artists Heather Deegan Hires and Christian Correa and become part of a living mural at Hayday Coffee’s Community Canvas. Participants will be able to watch the mural being created live and get involved with the creation themselves. Part of north2Shore and the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. Black Excellence: Art by Melvin Lee Smith

▶now – Sunday from 11am-6pm noyes Arts Garage 2200 Fairmount Ave. Atlantic City

Self-taught artist Melvin Lee returns to the African American Heritage Museum of Southern n ew Jersey (AAHMSnJ) with a new exhibit. This exhibit lets us revisit significant moments in African American history and culture through the eyes of the artist. Smith’s first solo exhibit presents a group of new paintings with a selection from his older work. Free admission. Skate AC Art Show

▶Thursday, June 9th & Friday, June 10th from 6-9pm union Hall Arts 2806 Atlantic Ave.

Atlantic City

Join union Hall Arts for a two-night art show highlighting art to promote the joy, fun, and benefits of skateboarding as part of north2Shore.

Somers Point Dance Society

▶Tuesdays from 7:30-10pm

Somers Point Fire Co. #1 447 Bethel Rd.

Come out to Somers Point Fire Co. #1 every Tuesday for social dancing, line dances, dance mixers, and more. Light snacks included in admission. $10 live musical duo each week. Call Rita Voli at 609-408-3619 for information. See you on the dance floor.

Thursday, June 8th

Samples N Needles Beach Party

▶5-10pm

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

Samples n n eedles hosts its first sunset party at Bally’s. You can enjoy an industry mixer with elite professionals overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The event will consist of 4 DJs travelling through genres such as House, Techno, Afrobeat, and Top 40. Saint Luke & the Saint Luke Orchestra will be performing with special guest Musician Venzella Joy. Tickets available at northtoshore.com.

Somers Point Poetry Society

▶6pm

A Poetry Club will be held monthly on the second Thursday. Contact erin at haikuclubnj@yahoo.com to register. This is not just for poetry writers, but for anyone interested in poetry. It is also open to the surrounding communities of Somers Point.

North To Shore: Comedy and Open Mic Night w/ Michelle Tomko

▶7pm

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

Get laughing and share a song at Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall’s Open Mic. Free admission.

North To Shore Opening Night

Dance Party feat. Joe McGinty & The Loser’s Lounge

▶8pm

Anchor Rock Club 247 S. n ew York Ave. Atlantic City

Bust out your best move at the n2S opening dance party.Celebrate the night on the dance floor as Joe McGinty & The Loser’s Lounge perform a wide range of favorites and classics sure to satisfy music lovers of all stripes.

Friday, June 9th

Whole Health Pavilion

▶10am-6pm

Stockton u niversity, Atlantic City Campus

Join the Whole Health Pavilion at Stockton u niversity’s Atlantic City Campus for a free community health event open to the public. The Pavilion will showcase n ew Jersey as a healthcare and life sciences center of excellence, with exciting interactive exhibits and expert panels that speak to the latest health, wellness, and biotech developments. More information is available at northtoshore.com.

Smithville Car Cruise

▶5-8pm

Historic Smithville 615 e . Moss Mill Rd.

Hang out with fellow car enthusiasts. Car cruises are held on the second and fourth Friday from May through September. Just drive to the side parking lot of the Village Greene and near the red covered bridge; you will see orange cones set up. Move a cone and park your car. For more information, visit www.historicsmithville.com.

Stockton Dance Company: Between the Lines

▶6pm

noyes Arts Garage 2200 Fairmount Ave. Atlantic City

Between the Lines brings a mixed bill of dance works from the most promising choreographers in the Stockton university dance community. This contemporary dance perfor-

mance will highlight unpredictable and thought provoking works from faculty, students, and alumni during Atlantic City’s n orth to Shore Festival. Free admission. Discounted parking will be available in the WAVe Garage.

Montclair Film Beach Screening:

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

▶8:30pm

Chicken Bone Beach at Playground

Pier 1 Oceanic Terrace, Atlantic City

Grab a seat on the sand for a free sunset screening of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, produced and presented by Montclair Film.

Saturday, June 10th

DRCF Paddle for a Cause

▶8am Ski Beach, Ventnor

Paddle for a Cause features more than 100 stand-up and prone paddleboarders, in addition to competitors in other type of watercraft including outrigger canoes, surf-skis, kayaks and rowboats, embarking on an over-20mile journey designed to test competitors mentally and physically similar to someone battling cancer. This all-day event is comprised of live music, a beer garden, vendors, and is open to the public. Hosted by the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation. Learn more at thedrcf.org.

OC Pride Fest

▶9am-1pm

Carey Stadium, Ocean City

We Belong Cape May County is hosting its inaugural Pride Fest this Saturday on the OCHS Practice Field. The festivities will begin with a Boardwalk Pride Walk at 9am, followed by family fun, music, yoga, and resources at 10am. More information is available on Instagram @webelong.cmc.

Skate AC: Bash at Back Sov

▶12-8pm

3301 Fairmount Ave. Atlantic City

Skate AC will host its Bash at Back Sov this Saturday. Contests will be held for cash and prizes. Plus, enjoy live music, food trucks, artists and vendors, and free skate throughout the day. For more information, visit www.skateac. org.

HSOC Beer & Beer

▶5pm

Surf Dog Bar and Grill 1563 DeHirsch Ave. Woodbine

Join the Humane Society of Ocean City and party with your friends and family at Surf Dog this Saturday. enjoy an evening of food, fun, music, and prizes in support of shelter animals. Tickets are available at the HSOC shelter during regular business hours. $30 donation. Call 609-398-9500 x 1 for more details.

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North To Shore: Anthony Krizan, formerly of Spin Doctors

▶5-8pm

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

Anthony Krizan goes solo with soulful, swampy rock & roll. Free admission.

Light & Sound Healing Experience

▶6-8pm

Absecon Lighthouse 31 S. Rhode Island Ave. Atlantic City

enjoy an evening of education, moments of discovering, peace and relaxation on the beautiful Lighthouse grounds; pack a picnic, bring a blanket and stay a while. $20 donation to help keep the light shining. Rain date: Sunday, June 11. For more information, visit abseconlighthouse.org.

North to Shore: Low Cut Connie

▶7pm

Anchor Rock Club 247 S. n ew York Ave. Atlantic City

When Low Cut Connie hit the stage, you know you’re in for an epic pop-rock performance you won’t forget. Tickets are available at www. anchorrockclub.com.

Hello Summer Bonfire

▶7:30pm

26th Street Beach, Brigantine

Join the Brigantine Chamber of Commerce for the highly anticipated Bonfire on the Beach. Bring your

beach chairs and blankets as we light up the night with a mesmerizing bonfire. enjoy delicious s’mores, engaging conversations, and live entertainment that will create lasting memories.

Spoken Word, Hosted by Krystle J. Bailey

▶7:30pm

union Hall Arts 2806 Atlantic Ave. Atlantic City

Shore Local’s Krystle J. Bailey is an author, writer, content creator, and poet. Her passion for the written word has served as a vehicle that has taken her on many journeys. Krystle aims to connect to the heart of the story beneath the story. Join Krystle Bailey at u nion Hall Arts this Saturday for an evening of spoken word poetry as part of the north2Shore Festival. Free admission.

North to Shore: Colbie Caillat + Gavin DeGraw

▶8pm

Boardwalk Hall – Adrian Philips Theater 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Catch two multi-platinum indie singer/songwriters on one bill as Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat team up for n orth2Shore. Tickets available via the Boardwalk Hall Box Office and Ticketmaster.

North to Shore: Remember Jones: Bat Out of Hell Live

▶8pm

Resorts Superstar Theater 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

e xperience wild theatricality and larger-than-life emotion as Remember Jones presents Bat Out of Hell Live, a revival of Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album in its entirety and more with a 15-piece band. Tickets available at northtoshore.com.

Montclair Film Beach Screening: Top Gun: Maverick

▶8:30pm

Chicken Bone Beach at Playground Pier 1 Oceanic Terrace, Atlantic City

The need for speed returns. Join Montclair Film on the sand for a Free Screening of Top Gun: Maverick.

Sunday, June 11th

Golf & Jazz with Eric Alexander and Friends

▶12-3pm

n orth Beach Mini Golf 120 euclid Ave. Atlantic City

Play a round of Mini Golf while listening to the smooth sounds of jazz music from eric Alexander and Friends. This interactive event will be fun for all ages. Free admission with round of Mini Golf.

North to Shore: Yo Eleven: One Woman, Many Voices

▶1-3pm

Superstar Theater at Resorts Casino Hotel 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Yo eleven – One Woman, Many Voices tells the story of Atlantic City from the hearts and eyes of its

residents. Michelle Tomko shines in this one-woman show that highlights all the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the sad, and the funny of life in Atlantic City. Tickets available at northtoshore.com.

North to Shore: Weir-Wolves

▶6-9pm

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

Head on down to the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall for the Bob Weir tribute band, Weir-Wolves.

Tuesday, June 13th

Village Film Society

▶10:30am

Join Village Community Specialist

Tina Serota for a discussion about the motion picture, A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks. The movie showcases the story of a curmudgeon who, following his wife’s death, no longer sees purpose in life until a lively young family movies in next door. The film can be viewed on n etflix.. RSVP by June 8th by contacting Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@jfsatlantic. org.

Wednesday, June 14th

Philly Take Over at Ventnor Square Theatre

▶8:30pm

5211 Ventnor Ave.

SoulJoel’s presents The Philly Takeover, featuring the best comedians from Philadelphia, hosted by Ryan Shaner. Purchase tickets online at squaretheatres.com/ventnor.

Thursday, June 15th

Memoir Workshop: Hybrid

▶10:30am

Katz JCC Boardroom 501 n . Jerome Ave. Margate

e xperience the thrill of capturing your life’s adventures, history, and ancestry at the Memoir Workshop led by award-winning author and Drexel u niversity Director of Certificate Program In Writing and Publishing, Harriet Levin Millan. Learn about publishing your work. You need a laptop or pen/paper for the workshop. Attend in person or via Zoom. RSVP by June 8th by contacting Tina Serota at 609287-8872 or tserota@jfsatlantic.org.

Tuesday, June 20th

Comfort Cooking: Light & Delicious ▶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 to cook summer specialty recipes in new and creative ways by taking existing ingredients and substituting healthier options. RSVP by June 14th by contacting Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@jfsatlantic.org.

Upcoming Bus Trips

Phillies vs. Braves

▶Thursday, June 22nd

Game time is at 1:05pm. $90 per person includes bus, 300 level ticket, a $12 voucher good for anything in the stadium, assorted beverages, and driver gratuity. Pick up locations in Brigantine and Absecon. Contact John Walters at (609) 703-5418 for more details.

Health and Wellness

Meetings for Family Members of Individuals Affected by Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorder

▶Thursday, June 8th at 10:30am

This is a workshop style meeting among peers with a new topic each month. Meetings include a presentation segment and an open discussion component. Daytime meetings are 10:30am on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month; evening meetings are the third

Thursday at 7pm. Offered by the Mental Health Association of Atlantic County through the Intensive Family Support Services program. Call 609-517-8614 for information on how to participate.

NAMI Connections and Family Support Groups

▶Monday, June 12th at 7pm

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

n AMI 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. For more information and to register, please visit www. namiacm.org, or call 609-741-5125.

Dementia Support Group

▶Wednesday, June 21st at 1:30pm

6009 Paul and Thelma Lane, Mays Landing

Held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 1:30-3pm. Call

Diane Conover at 609-402-6966 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 609-652-3800 or unitedbywellness@mhanj.org.

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 Asso -

ciation in Atlantic County at 609-6523800.

Wellness Groups

A wide variety of online groups are offered to enhance wellness and introduce interested participants to ways they can improve their day-to-day mental health. To register and receive links by email, call 609-652-3800 or unitedbywellness@mhanj.org.

Senior Aging Experts

Information Senior Presentations

Available. Panel of experienced professionals that cover many aspects of aging. This is not a sales presentation. Please call to arrange. For more information, contact Diane Conover at 609-402-6966.

Do you have an upcoming event?

Let us know about it! Submit your next event to shorelocalevents@gmail.com.

A new place to get creative in Margate

By Krystle J Bailey

The Paint Place is now open on Ventnor Avenue in Margate. Owned and operated by Marci Freede, The Paint Place is an opportunity for painters of all ages and experience levels to come together in an open and welcoming atmosphere to create art.

Marci, who grew up spending her summers in Margate with her family, opened the first Paint Place in Manhattan in 2014. nine years later, after a great deal of success, the business is expanding. Alongside her two daughters, Hannah and Alexa, Marci opened the doors to The Paint Place nJ on Memorial Day Weekend.

At The Paint Places, guests are invited to take crafting and painting classes, host private parties, or make an appointment to freestyle paint. The corner location offers a light-hearted atmosphere filled with creative energy and inspiring ideas.

each evening, adult artists are invited to join one of two daily classes. There are four daily blocks of time where artists of all ages can schedule a time to paint. Marci and her team are looking forward to several upcoming specialty events, including “Paint Your Pet,” “90s Trivia,” “Teen night,” “Wood Signs,” and an outdoor sunset painting event on the bay.

“This space revealed itself last year,” shared Freede. “Someone told me about upcoming construction and encouraged me to open a second location to offer more activities in this evolving town, and we just love everything about Margate.”

Freede, an Art History major and mom of two, finds inspiration in her two daughters, who she has shared her business endeavors with every step of the way. Once the owner of a little girls’ spa, Sweet & Sassy, Freede has always kept her daughters closely involved in the family business.

“She worked hard, and her hard work is paying off,” expressed Hannah, who attended Laguradia Highschool for Fine Art.

“We are very proud of her; she’s done a great job,” echoed Hanna’s twin, Alexa.

The twins will be at The Paint Place all summer assisting the full staff of art teachers, who will be offering a full calendar of painting opportunities by mid-June. Currently, The Paint Place is open on select nights and weekends, which can be found on their website.

“The world is a crazy place right now,” explained Marci Freede. “We want people to come in here and smile. We want them to leave saying, ‘That was really fun.’”

For more information and class times, visit ThePaintPlacenJ.com.

Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant celebrates women at ‘the age of elegance’

By Ava Holly Lewis

Harrah’s Atlantic City played host to one of the most coveted events in town Thursday, June 1 –the Ms. n ew Jersey Senior America Pageant.

Founded in 1971 by Dr. Al Mott, the pageant takes women “from the rocking chair to the runway,” according to the event’s website.

“This pageant was designed to give honor to women who have reached ‘the age of elegance,’ based on the belief that seniors are the foundation of America and our most valuable treasure.”

The contestants included Atlantic City’s own Thelma Witherspoon, PhD.; from Seaside Park, Deb Sica; Doloris Bagley from Lawrenceville; Denise Mechan from Bayville; three contestants from Manchester: Mary

DeConca, Ferlie Almonte, and Arlene Trinidad; from Toms River, Roe Picolli; from Trenton, Bernadette Jones; Lenore Cibelli Lambert from Sayreville; Priestess Wallace from Atlantic City, and Morgo Cordes from Old Bridge.

These outstanding ladies displayed talent ranging from spoken word, to vocals and dance.

Also performing was Ms. n ew Jersey Senior America 2022 Betty Jean Pace, and Ms. Senior America 2022 Debbie Robbins.

The Grande Dames Chorus enter-

tained with a sing-along and a show-stopping presentation with the n ew Jersey Star Dancers, all a part of the organization. They say it takes a village and this organization has certainly built upon that. There is the Hostess Committee and the Cameo Club. Also part of the team are State Administrator Johanne Santori, Pageant Director Terry Meade and Master of Ceremonies Steve Berger taking us all on this journey, not to mention all the work that goes on behind the scenes and of course the board of trustees.

Melanie Brough,

choreographer, whisked us away to summer with the production number,

Photo by Ava Holly Lewis

Photo by Ava Holly Lewis

“Surfin’ uSA.” Hats off to everyone who contributed to make this event spectacular.

The pageant would not be complete without this year’s outstanding judges: Victor Sevcenko, Rick Santoro, Don Hurley, Dr. nancy Wilkinson, and Debra Kohn.

Special performances by emcee Steve Berger, Max Valentino and Adriana Trenta added to the day’s festivities.

It was just a wow, wow, wow afternoon capped by a fantastic after party in the eden Lounge just across the hall. Walking around, I got to see some outstanding fashion including a time piece shoulder purse and an Ava’s eye bag.

It’s not only about beauty and fashion, these ladies have criteria they are judged on such as interview and talent, 30 percent each; and philosophy and evening gown, 20 percent each, with philosophy showing the contestants’ inner beauty. All in all this is such a great way to celebrate the innovations and productivity of our senior women.

The organization is always looking for smart, savvy women to enter the state competition. each state winner competes for the national title as well. This year, that will also be held at Harrah’s Casino.

For now you can catch a performance at Kennedy Plaza on the Atlantic City Boardwalk on July 18.

Shore Local would like to congratulate this year‘s state winners:

4th runner up: Mary DeConca

3rd runner up: Bernadette Jones

Father's Day Favorites

2nd runner up: Roe Picolli

1st runner up : Lenore Cibelli Lambert

And this year’s winner: Ferlie Almonte

To find out more about all the exciting events associated with this organization see mssenioramericallc. com or Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant on Facebook. A video of the performance is available for purchase.

Photo by Ava Holly Lewis

Photo by Ava Holly Lewis

Promises made, promises kept at Ventnor Plaza

Business Buzz

By Rich Baehrle

It has been quite a busy year for new Ventnor Plaza owner Mark Greco and his partners who purchased the 15-acre retail center in June 2022.

To say that the center needed to be rejuvenated and repositioned is an understatement. When they purchased the plaza, there was nearly 90,000 square feet of vacant space and its image was in need of immediate attention.

But Greco had a vision to not only recreate the physical aspects of the building, but also to recognize the proper tenant mix to attain the synergy necessary to stabilize the asset. ultimately the goal is to make an environment where tenants thrive and customers have stores and services that did not previously exist.

The quest to bring Ventnor Plaza

back to life has been a passion for Mark Greco. He has owned a home in Ventnor since the early 1990s. He and his family shopped at Ventnor Plaza and saw what everybody else saw; that it needed much TLC, but it had potential.

Greco said he has a great team of professionals that build and redevelop properties throughout n ew Jersey and the region. They know the challenge and they are proving that they are capable of turning Ventnor Plaza into a first-class retail center.

Greco indicated that there are

nine new tenants coming to the plaza with only a couple of vacant spaces remaining. The pad sites are under construction and the overall “elevation” of the property is nearing completion on the eastern side of the property. They are currently paving a portion of the elevated area to allow for parking.

The new tenants include Pickle Juice, an indoor pickleball court with a juice bar and pro shop; a well-known local restaurant PJ Buckets; Ivy nails; Little Sprouts Day Care and Provenza restaurant and event center.

They will be welcomed by existing tenants including the u.S. Postal Service, anchored by Acme Markets; Island Gym and Dollar Tree, which is expanding; AutoZone; DC Sports; Shore Thrift; Atlantic City electric Customer Service; Smokin Aces, also expanding; H&R Block; Buy Rite Liquors; Chubby Chicks Restaurant, and Community Dental,

There will be a Burger King pad site on the newly elevated portion of the parking area. The foundation and pilings will be starting shortly. This will be followed by new curbing, sidewalks, and paving.

The building will take a few months to complete. They expect to have it up and open to the public later this year. It will be complemented by a separate building which will be occupied by Starbucks and Greens and Grains. It should be ready to occupy by the end of this year or early next year.

Greco said before the property purchase you could not buy a cup of coffee anywhere in Ventnor Plaza.

“ n o sandwiches, no slice of pizza, nothing. That has all changed with several new restaurants and other innovative offerings to make it a destination of all of the consumers’ needs.

“By the end of the year you won’t recognize Ventnor Plaza,” he said. “It will feature new unique restaurants, second-to-none in the area along with retail services that will meet the customers’ needs. The new façade will give you a truly welcomed feeling.”

Greco said the project is not about him, his partners or their company.

“It is about the city, the plaza, and the residents,” he said.

Discover Ocean Outdoor Teak and Poly Outlet

Depleted furniture inventory not a problem here

As w e enter into the summer season, many shore homeowners and businesses are thinking of updating their outdoor spaces. When it comes to the indoor comforts of home outside, Ocean Outdoor Teak and Polly outlet is ready to help get the look you want with quality furniture that lasts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local PAL team places third in international underwater robotics competition

By Krystle J Bailey

Gathered around a table at a local coffee shop, the four members of eHT Police Athletic League’s SeaPerch team laugh as they tell stories of their teamwork and travels. The local middle school students recently competed in the International SeaPerch Challenge, where they took third place among 58 teams who all earned their ticket to the competition through regional qualifiers. The teams, from 29 u.S. states and seven countries, met at the u niversity of Maryland in College Park on May 13, where they were invited to display their underwater ROV design on an international stage.

“SeaPerch is an underwater robotics program that aims to equip

elementary, middle, and high school students with science and engineering knowledge in a collaborative and competitive environment,” wrote 6th grader Audrey Ren in an essay about the competition. “Students and coaches are provided with a basic ROV kit and are tasked with altering the ROV to fit the needs of a yearly challenge.”

This year’s challenge was ocean exploration. Challengers were tasked with the mission to build an underwater ROV that could move sea critters, transport water samples, map the seafloor, and activate a target flag.

“Working as a team is very important,” explains 13-year-old ROV challenge driver Dylan Brown. “If the tether gets tangled or doesn’t communicate well, it will mess up our whole run, so working together with the driver lets them know if there are any problems that that they don’t notice.”

Dylan is supported by his teammates, obstacle course driver Aravin Thirunahari as well as Patrick dos Santos and Audrey Ren, who both

served as the tethers. Together, they are “The enforcers.” Over the course of six weeks, the quartet of ST eM students used 3D-printed parts, zip ties, metal wire, and CPVC pipe to build an underwater ROV that could maneuver the various obstacle courses they faced.

With the help of their coaches, Denise and Mike Massey, who introduced the challenge to eHT PAL a decade ago, The enforcers took to the main stage and won third place, beating out teams from China, Brazil, and egypt.

“It’s a small group, but they really enjoy it, and the coaches are really

dedicated,” shares Audrey Ren’s mother, Jane Hu.

“We are really proud of them,” echoes Aravin’s mother, Anita.

Dylan Brown, Audrey Ren, Patrick dos Santos, and Aravin Thirunahari are four dedicated and intelligent local students destined for great success. Being invited to The SeaPerch Challenge is an incredibly high honor. Placing in the top three is representative of the hard work, talent, and commitment of these four local students. As Audrey prepares to move and Dylan looks forward to joining the high school team, The enforcers are looking for interested middle school students to join their team.

Find out more about eHT PAL and next year’s SeaPerch challenge at ehtpal.org.

Krystle J Bailey is a multimedia journalist, author and poet. Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5

GET

OFF ANY

Thousands enjoy food, fun at Greek Festival

The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church's 39th Annual Greek Festival, in egg HarborTownship, drew large crowds over the 4-day event. The Festival featured Greek food favorites, homemade pastries, live music, Greek dance performances, fireworks and amusement rides.

In fact, more than 70% of organizations employ leadership coaching. * Let’s face it, the pros understand they need help to get them to the top of their game. I help businesses identify their most pressing problems and then help solve them. Each plan is customized and I’ll work you until your goals are met.

Ventnor Farmer’s Market success leads to expansion

A day one vendor, Cuneo says Ventnor covers the factors that make for a good market: location, day of the week and management.

By William Sokolic

At one point in his career as a farmer, ed Cuneo attended as many as four farmer’s markets a week through summer, selling a variety of produce. Cuneo, owner of 112 year-old Spinelli farm in Waterford Works, Camden County, has whittled the list down to one, and the one is Ventnor.

"Ventnor is a good confluence of enthusiastic shoppers and supporters, a just right mix of farmers and a great management team who value your input and want your experience to be the best it can be," Cuneo says.

"It's incredibly rewarding to watch the fruits of our labor come together each Friday. We're uber organized, communicate constantly, and value the relationships we've built over the years. ," says Penni Starer, one of three market managers, along with Andy Starer and Maria Gatta.

Fruits are very popular at Ventnor as are corn, tomatoes and greens. "We try to vary our product as much as possible so as not to be stale,” Cuneo says. “We also offer organic and conventional options for our products, so the consumers have a choice depending on their preferences."

While Ventnor scores high for its locale, location is not always an accurate barometer of success, he says. "We have attended markets in towns that have a good population and are financially beneficial and ended up with poor attendance.”

Go figure.

It’s incumbent for the farmer end to work with the market manager. “If it is not an amicable relationship, then

it becomes very difficult to face someone who you know does not have your best interests in mind,” Cuneo says. “So we try to work within the parameters set by the market but value being able to give our input and have it valued by the management.”

Cuneo is fortunate; he’s financially secure –he worked as an educator and has a pension - so one market a week is sufficient to supplement his income.

"I know talking to other farmers getting someone to work the market is the biggest drawback to a lot of other farms," Cuneo says.

Want the truth? It isn't as easy as it seems for either side to put the pieces together and run a farmer's market once a week during the summer months.

From farm to table has become a popular slogan for restaurants who buy produce daily from farms for their menu. Ventnor’s farmers market has their own version, selling produce from farm to table every Friday.

Before schools let out, customers are primarily local, Starer says. “Once the annual trek to the shore occurs at the end of June, our customer base draws from all over the tri-state area. Foot traffic used to average in the hundreds, but now we see crowds in the thousands coming through once summer kicks in.”

For the three managers, the process of preparing for the summer kicks off in mid- november when invitations go out to the vendors, Starer says.

"As the months progress, we check off hundreds of items on our `to-do’ list,” she says. “While we're a private entity operating as a n .J. non-profit, we couldn't do what we

do without the city's support. They are well aware of the positive impact the market has on our town and help wherever possible."

The managers had an unprecedented number of vendor requests this year. To accommodate as many vendors as possible, the market will expand, using every inch of available space in the St. James parking lot.

"By pushing back one of our farmers' booths, we gained additional vendor space and room for marketgoers. Another exciting change is that Ventnor is offering free parking during market hours in the two municipal lots on newport Avenue and in

designated metered spots on Atlantic Avenue,” Starer says.

Markets are successful because people today like to know where their food is coming from and who is growing it, Cuneo says. “The fact is you cannot beat fresh and most people know that so they come out to farmers markets knowing they are getting the best product because it is freshly picked. If you present a good product, consumers will go the extra effort to pay top dollar for it which benefits the farmer."

As for competing towns, bring them on, Starer says, "We love the idea that folks up and down the Jersey shore can find n .J. Fresh produce,

hand-crafted specialty foods, and a sense of community nearly everyday of the week. “We never feel we're competing with other markets...it's all about our hard-working vendors giving them an opportunity to reach as many people as possible in a short amount of time."

Many vendors set up at multiple markets throughout the week. There are even days when vendors set up at two or three different venues. “We're blown away by the huge amount of energy and passion our vendors exude. By Labor Day, they're spent, but mostly appreciative for the chance to get their produce and products in as many events as possible,” Starer says.

And why not, she says.

“Where else can people spend time outdoors surrounded by wonderful smells; beautiful colors; lots of cool things to buy; an array of foods and drinks; friendly smiles; and a chance to support local farms, food specialists, and crafters?” Starer says.

Graduating from something to something new

uation ceremony is actually called: a commencement.

A commencement is just the beginning

By Bill Quain

It’s graduation season, and we all know what that means. Millions of people are completing some sort of training, education, or certification, and have earned the right to move on to something new. Here in Ocean City, you can feel the excitement as the Class of ’23 gets ready for their big night! Our daughters graduated from OCHS in 2009 and 2011, and both went on to something new. OCHS was a wonderful launching pad for them. While the proud parents of the newest OCHS alumni should be thrilled with their children’s accomplishments, it’s important to remember what the grad -

SIX WORDS ON A BOARDWALK BENCH by

In June, the six words above should be on every boardwalk bench, every tee shirt, and anywhere else where inspirational messages can appear. n o matter what the graduation or completion ceremony celebrates, it isn’t the end of something; it’s the beginning of whatever is next. It doesn’t matter if it is grade school, high school, college, Boot Camp, the Police Academy, or a Certificate Program. Graduating from any of those places is an accomplishment. More importantly, it signifies that the graduate has earned the right to move on to whatever is next. Dear readers, moving on (and growing up) is what makes life so special. Was all that work worth it?

As a college professor, I’m always interested in articles and newscasts that ask the question: “Is college worth it?” My answer is always, “It

Bill Quain

all depends on what’s next!” What you have finished isn’t nearly as impactful as what you are about to do. This is great news for anyone who will soon be graduating.

“Your performance has been a disappointment…”

I was not a good student in college. In fact, I came very close to flunking out. I was attending the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell u niversity. In the first semester of my junior year, my GPA was a very low 1.79, the equivalent of a D+. A few weeks after the

semester ended, I got a terrifying letter from the college Dean. The letter included the above statement about his disappointment in me and went on to suggest that perhaps I should do something else with my life, other than being in his school! But he did give me an option. If I could attain a 2.0 GPA the following semester, the equivalent of a very low C average, then I could stay. While a low C doesn’t seem like a difficult accomplishment, it still looked pretty tough to me. So what did I do? I worked my butt off, and did it… barely! I earned a 2.09 that spring and went on to graduate with a very low 2.2 overall GPA for those four years of work.

Dr. Quain, I need an “A”

I used to hear those six words above almost every semester. A student would ask me for an extra-credit assignment because they needed an “A.” I say that I used to hear those words every semester because most of my students have

now heard about the letter. In my office, I have a framed copy of the letter that I received from the Dean, all those years ago. When a student tells me they need an “A,” I take the letter off the wall, show it to them, and say, “ no you don’t. You just need to graduate!” This is the message I want to send to all of you this graduation season.

Was going to school worth it?

Okay, let’s get back to that nagging question we are hearing all over the news these days. “Was your investment in time and money worth it?” The answer is, “Yes, but only if you finish it and move on.” After graduating college, no one asked what my GPA had been, except when I applied to graduate school. After college, I spent a year in V.I.S.T.A., which is now called AmeriCorps. Maybe I’ll do a column about that one day, but suffice it to say, my GPA was of no concern to the people I worked with. I then became the Food & Beverage Director and e xecutive Chef

of a ski area in Lake Tahoe. n one of my guests, bosses or employees cared if I was an “A” student. By the time I went to graduate school, I had built a credible reputation, and more importantly, when I looked the admissions counselor in the eye, I had the confidence and poise to overcome anything on paper! Today, I’m a full-time professor, a professional speaker, and the author of 27 books, a number of them best-sellers. Was college worth it for me? It’s hard to say, but graduating was definitely worth it!

Walk across that stage, and live!

So, to all the graduates – from whatever and wherever – congratu -

lations! Were you perfect? Probably not, but it doesn’t matter. That piece of paper you have is the only credential that matters. now, frame it, put it on your wall, and have a great life!

“C” students: write on our bench!

Okay, now it’s your turn. How about sharing your six-word stories, advice, or questions? We’d even like to hear from the “A” students! Send your six words (along with a few sentences to give a little background information and context) to bill@ quain.com. Put “Six-Word Stories” in the subject line. As I say each week, I’ll see ya’ in the papers!

Novelty Beach Tag Patches

Market and Wacky Wednesday Coming Up in June

Tickets on Sale for Children’s Theatre Series at Music

Pier

The popular weekly Farmers Market on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle will open for the 2023 season on Wednesday, June 21. The market features the best of fresh produce from local farms in the region, along with a variety of craft vendors. It will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 13. The produce stands are set up along Asbury Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

Wacky Wednesdays – the weekly series of family contests under the loggia at the Ocean City Music Pier – will begin this year on Wednesday, June 28. The first event will invite all to sculpt Shriver’s salt water taffy into artistic masterpieces. Contests later in the season will include pie-eating, french fry sculpting and a variety of other “wacky” endeavors. All of the contests are free to enter but limited to the first 250 participants. They start promptly at 10:30 a.m. and last an hour.

Funtastic Tuesdays in the Downtown and Mummers n ights on the Boardwalk (both on Tuesdays) and Market Days in the Downtown and Family nights on the Boardwalk (both on Thursdays) will begin in July.

Tickets for the Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) Children’s Theatre Series at the Ocean City Music Pier are on sale now. The 2023 lineup features four popular tales on stage Tuesday mornings from July 11 through August 1. All performances are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., and tickets are $10 in advance and $12 on the day of the show. To purchase your tickets, visit oceancitytheatrecompany.com.

The 2023 Children's Theatre Series will feature the following shows:

● DR. SeuSS'S THe CAT In TH e HAT (July 11): This Dr. Seuss classic tells the tale of a mischievous cat who turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mom find when she gets home?

● R eD RIDI n G HOOD'S WOODS (July 18): With this creative twist on a traditional tale, Little Red encounters with a singing Postman, Three Little Pigs, The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker, Granny, and, of course, the Big Bad Wolf.

● PI n OCCHIO (July 25): Filled with original music, sing-alongs and interactivity, audiences will enjoy every minute of this show as Pinocchio learns that respecting other people, telling the truth, and being good will make his dreams come true.

● RAP un Z e L (August 1): From the emmy-winning team behind the mega-hit television series "Friends," comes a familiar tale with a fantastic new spin.

COMING UP IN JUNE

J une 10 – Artisans Hobo Band Concert: 7 p.m. at the Music Pier. This year’s entertainment for the 76th annual Family Weekend of the Artisans Order of Mutual Protection will be a concert by the Original Hobo Band. Admission is free. For more information, call 215-708-1000 or visit www. artisansaomp.org.

J une 17 – Health & Fitness e xpo: Come explore health food and wellness product vendors, various yoga and fitness classes, western line dance and ballroom dance classes, and enjoy a fashion show highlighting the newest styles from local merchants from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier.

The event will also feature a Kids Corner. Hosted by the Healthy Living Advisory Council.

J une 17 – Juneteenth: A celebration of the African American communities of Ocean City and the surrounding areas from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Haven Avenue between 7th Street and 8th Street. event will include food, live music, comedy, vendors, youth activities, African dance, drums, storytelling and visual arts. Guest speakers will be Kelly Cornish (mental health, drug addiction) and Michelle Washington Wilson (storyteller in education).

J une 19 – Get The Led Out: The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at Ticketmaster, and a limited number are available (by cash or check only) at the Music Pier Box Office.

J une 20 – Keb’ Mo’: The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at Ticketmaster, and a limited number are available (by cash or check only) at the Music Pier Box Office.

J une 21 – Farmers Market: The weekly marketplace opens for the season at the Tabernacle Grounds. The Farmers Market returns 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday. Crafters in the street at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue.

J une 23-24 – Book Sale: The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library announce a Summer 2023 Two-Day Book Sale to be held in the atrium of the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Avenue on Friday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, go to friendsvolunteersocfpl.com. Attendees are requested to provide their own tote bags. Cash only.

J une 24 – Antique Auto Show: Over 300 vintage vehicles. Tabernacle grounds, Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with boardwalk parade after 2 p.m. For more information, visit jerseycape.aaca.com.

J une 25 – Kristin Chenoweth Performing with the Ocean City Pops: The award-winning actress and singer’s career spans film, television and stage, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She highlights the Ocean City Pops’ season-opener at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean

City Music Pier. In 2009, she received an emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Pushing Daisies.” In 1999, she won a Tony Award for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and she was nominated for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked” in 2004. She has been nominated for two emmy Awards and a People’s Choice Award for her role on “Glee,” and she also recently starred in Apple TV’s comedy series “Schmigadoon.” For tickets, visit oceancityvacation. com/box-office.

J une 26 – Bruce Hornsby & The n oisemakers: The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier.

Tickets available at Ticketmaster, and a limited number are available (by cash or check only) at the Music Pier Box Office.

J une 27 – The Rascals: The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at Ticketmaster, and a limited number are available (by cash or check only) at the Music Pier Box Office.

J une 28 – Wacky Wednesday (Taffy Sculpting): use your creativity to shape and sculpt Shriver’s salt water taffy into your very own unique masterpiece. Contest is free and open to the first 250 participants. event starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. at the Music Pier.

S PADAAFORA’S

OC implements changes to curtail large teen gatherings

By Steffen Klenk

The City of Ocean City is aiming to address the issue of teens gathering along the beaches and boardwalk after hours. In a statement June 1, officials announced a city-wide beach closure between the hours of 8pm

Furthermore, city officials have outlined plans to extend the curfew for all individuals under the age of 18, without a parent or guardian. The new underage curfew would move from 1a.m. to 11p.m. Plans are also in place to implement a ban on backpacks larger than 8’’ by 6’’ by 8’’. If approved by City Council, the new rules will go into effect by Father’s Day Weekend.

In recent years, the City has seen an uptick in the number of incidents like those that occurred on Memorial Day Weekend. Last weekend, Ocean City police responded to 999 incidents, up from 869 incidents Memo -

and 5am. In addition, all boardwalk bathrooms will close at 10pm. The new ordinance went into effect immediately.

rial Day Weekend in 2022. Many of the incidents stemmed from large gatherings of teens along the beach and boardwalk. A total of 632 curb -

Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian

side warnings were issued, with up to 100 reports of shoplifting.

Police were also called to incidents surrounding destruction of public and private property, shoplifting, assaults, threats to bathroom attendants, and other infractions. Several teens were taken to the hospital after becoming unconscious after excessive alcohol consumption.

“We want parents, grandparents and families to know that we’re all in this together, and we will be holding people accountable.” Mayor Gillian said in a statement “I want to support the men and women of our police department.”

State Senator Mike Testa, representing Cape May County, echoed the mayor’s sentiments during a press conference Thursday in front of the

Music Pier. Testa says law and order needs to be restored to shore communities to avoid chaos. “We can’t afford to have the reputation of America’s Greatest Family Resort damaged beyond repair; that is what will happen if we continue to allow anarchy on our boardwalks and beaches.”

During the press conference, Mayor Gillian also announced his intention to introduce an ordinance that would ban e-bikes along the boardwalk.

Large gatherings of teens caused problems on Memorial Day weekend.

USA Today Names

Ocean City the ‘Best Beach in the Northeast’

USA Today names Ocean City the ‘Best Beach in the n ortheast’

June 2, 2023 Cindy Fertsch

u SA Today announced today that Ocean City, n .J. is the winner of its Readers’ Choice 2023 contest as the “Best Beach in the n ortheast.”

The public chose Ocean City over beaches on Long Island in n ew York, Cape Ann in Massachusetts, and others from Maryland to Maine.

The contest was decided by online voters in a nationwide poll. Winners were announced on Friday.

Ocean City in recent years has been named “Best Beach in America” and “Best Beach” in many other statewide polls. “America’s Greatest Family Resort” also has been recognized for its boardwalk, downtown, ecotourism, family destinations, women-owned businesses and countless more.

“It’s great to see Ocean City achieve this honor,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “Ocean City has always been no. 1 in the hearts of so many of our residents and guests, and it’s a tradition for generations of families. I want to congratulate and thank the city team, our public safety departments, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Development Commission, the Boardwalk and Downtown Merchants associations, local businesses, all volunteer groups and the entire community in making Ocean City a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

Flower show brightens up Music Pier

Photos by Steffen Klenk

The Ocean City Flower Show returned to the Music Pier ast weekend (June 2 to June 4). The 49-year-old tradition presented by the Garden Club of Ocean City featured floral creations and displays from enthusiasts of all ages.

Awards were given in a variety of categories for artistic design and horticulture. This year’s theme is “June in Bloom.” The event also featured a small sales pavilion.

SHOPPES AT THE ASBURY

By the owners of Staintons Beautifully remodeled at the former Crown Bank 801 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City

When it comes to loans, one size does not fit all

Is a raw diet better for my dog?

By Heidi Clayton

About 20 years ago, I started feeding my dogs the raw meat diet when one of my dogs was clearly allergic to something in dog food. Despite all of the allergy testing, food elimination trials, and steroids I could not figure out what the source of the problem was. Several of my Bull Terrier breeder friends had been feeding the raw diet for years and suggested I try it to see if it helped my dog’s skin. I saw a difference almost immediately and have fed it raw food ever since.

Australian veterinarian

Dr. Ian Billinghurst is often credited with starting the raw food diet for dogs movement. Billinghurst felt that the dogs he was treating in Australia suffered from more skin- and cancer-related issues than the dogs of his youth. He started feeding his own dogs a raw diet and formulating the correct amount of nutrition needed for them to thrive. In his 1993 book “Give Your Dog a Bone,” he details how he saw a decrease in skin issues and an increase in overall health in the dogs he treated. He coined the phrase the “BARF” diet, which is short for bones and raw food. To this day, his book is a great source of information on how to get started feeding raw food.

The raw food controversy is real in the veterinarian world. Many vets are vehemently opposed to feeding the raw diet. Valid concerns against the raw diet include bacterial threats, unbalanced nutritional values when making your own food, high fat content and cost. Most vets believe feeding a kibble diet is best and will provide your dog with the nutritional requirements that they need.

However, there has been an uptick in the vet world of mixing modern medicine and nutrition with a holistic approach. Many of these vets recommend the raw diet. They feel that the long-term benefits of feeding raw in reducing skin issues and promoting overall gut health far outweigh the risks, particularly now with the diet

becoming more popular and commercially-made raw foods more available. When I first started feeding my dog raw food, it was time-consuming and required traveling to a butcher shop for bulk amounts of meat and 50 pounds of chicken necks, which I then spent hours defrosting, weighing, and bagging for later use. I am thrilled that I can now buy my food online. It is shipped frozen solid right to my front door.

If you research raw diets, you can find an endless amount of both pros and cons. I personally have developed a feeding regimen for my dogs that has resulted in healthier skin, shiny coats, weight maintenance, and strong clean teeth. Dogs with compromised immune systems might do better on a hydrolyzed protein diet or a home-cooked diet. I firmly believe

that there is no one best way to feed every dog. My dogs do eat potato-, pea-, and legume-free limited-ingredient kibble as a treat. I also rotate the raw protein that I feed them, switching up beef, lamb and venison. Feeding dogs a raw diet is not for everyone. As always, do what is best for your dog and consult with your vet. A few excellent resources on raw diets are perfectlyrawsome. com and dogsnaturallymagazine.com. Also, feel free to reach out to me and ask about my experiences in feeding my dogs a raw diet. If you have any questions, please email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.

Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, rewardbased dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@ fouronthefloordogtraining. net or learn more at https:// fouronthefloordogtraining.net

Old OC high school building was set to impress

A Look Back

By Fred Miller

This drawing of the new Ocean City High School was on the front page of the June 7, 1923, Ocean City Sentinel. The following information was under the picture: “Other cities may have larger, but none finer schools on the coast. The new structure will be modern for a superlative degree, and have accommodation for eight hundred pupils. An auditorium with a seating capacity for one thousand will be included, a swimming pool, large

gymnasium with accommodation for 250 spectators, a public library, and a room especially designed and furnished for ex-service men. Biological, chemical, and physical laboratories, with lecture rooms. Structure will be of tapestry brick, ornamented with limestone, and absolutely fireproof.”

with Excitement

The new high school was ready for the grand opening in September 1924. The old high school at 825 Central Avenue was used as an intermediate school.

By James FitzPatrick Contributing Writer

The Flanders Hotel will officially get its centennial birthday celebration underway with a series of monthly high tea events starting 2 p.m. Sunday, June 18.

The Centennial Tea series will include historical facts about the

Centennial High Tea kicks off Flanders’ 100th birthday celebration

Flanders Hotel. each guest will be presented with a stone coaster with a vintage picture of the hotel on it plus an easel for display. each guest will be given a handout describing one of the ballrooms and historical pictures of that room.

The particular ballroom will be determined by the number of guests.

“ each one will be centered around one of our banquet center rooms, whether it’s the Candlelight Room,

our Crystal Room, the Garden Room, or the Terrace Room,” said Peter Voudouris, president of the Flanders Hotel Condominium Association and director of hotel and banquet operations. “And we'll provide history about each room for each tea.

The first monthly Centennial High Tea on June 18 will feature a special menu offering a first course of spinach and artichoke quiche with crab, a lemon white chocolate scone, or apricot jam and mascarpone with walnuts in a phyllo cup.

A second course of ham, apple and gruyere cheese on rye will be offered in addition to marinated tomato, roasted red onion with boursin spread on toasted focaccia bread, shrimp salad with dill on new england roll, plus deviled egg with crispy leeks.

Their third course offerings will include strawberry shortcake, German chocolate cake bite, and macaroon.

Service will be provided by wait staff in banquet tuxedos and white gloves. The menu will be different for each Centennial Tea event.

The price is $47.95 plus tax and a service charge. For reservations and inquiries, call (609) 399-1000 ext 7889, or email catering@theflandershotel.com.

Seating is limited.

According to the Flanders Hotel website the tradition of the afternoon high tea dates to 1840 when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, introduced the idea to england.

Dinner was traditionally served about 8 o’clock in those days. This was a little late for Anna’s taste, who usually got hungry around 4 o’clock, so she began enjoying tea and a late snack in the late afternoon to hold her over until dinner. She started it, but soon it became a fashionable summer tradition among her circle of London friends.

“It didn't take long for other social hostesses to adopt this practice, and soon enough, it became fashionable for the entire high society to partake in the leisurely activity of sipping tea and indulging in sandwiches during the afternoon.”

Centennial High Teas are planned on the third Sunday of each month:

June 18, July 16, Aug. 20 , Sept. 17, and Oct. 15 leading up a gala centennial party on n ov. 18.

As far as the 100th anniversary celebration is concerned, the hotel is still finalizing the details but the plan is for an elegant event with antique cars from the 1920s, and antique boats lining 11th Street.

There will be bellmen and the hotel will be decorated in the era of the 1920s, Voudouris told Shore Local n ews in a previous interview.

The hotel is going to partner with the Ocean City Historical Museum, which will have historical artifacts on display and experts there to explain them. The Ocean City Pops will also be part of the celebration.

Guests can expect carving stations, a raw seafood bar, and fancy desserts. The main event will be a ticketed, semi-formal with period costumes optional.

On Sunday after the gala, there will be a 100th anniversary. Centennial High Tea with keepsake gifts and entertainment for a for all those who attend. A commemorative booklet is also planned.

Voudouris said his wife, Arlene, has been the interior designer for all the hotel’s renovations leading up to its 100th birthday party.

“We renovated our ballrooms, we renovated our second-floor men's and ladies bathroom. We renovated emily's Ocean Room Restaurant. The lobbies have been upgraded.”

The Flanders is ready for a once in a lifetime party.

The first monthly Centennial High Tea will take place on June 18.

Let It Grow

By Tammy Thornton

After enjoying all of the delicious food from the recent Greek Festival, I’ve got tzatziki on my mind. This easy-to-make yogurt sauce goes well with chicken, grape leaves, pita bread, vegetables, or seafood. Dill is one of the key ingredients that gives tzatziki and many other dishes its distinctive flavor. Fortunately, dill is flourishing in my garden and ready for the picking. Dill grows best in full sun and will start to sprout ten to fourteen days after planting from seed. Since dill has a long taproot, it doesn’t like to be transplanted. So it’s best to plant dill seeds directly in the garden. Because of this long taproot, it’s also a good idea to use a container that is at least eight inches deep. Plant new seeds every two to three weeks for a constant supply of leaves and (eventually) seeds. Make sure your

dill plants are well-drained and allow them to dry out between waterings, since they are susceptible to root rot.

Dill leaves will add a unique flavor to your favorite potato, seafood, and vegetable dishes. Fresh dill is a musthave ingredient in homemade tzatziki, but you can also add it to store bought tzatziki to give a fresh taste. One of my favorite dishes to make with dill uses it in two different ways. Though I’m not Greek, my tastebuds are. I love making my version of chicken gyros. Marinating the chicken in tzatziki will make it flavorful, juicy, and tender. Once the gyro is assembled, top it with more tzatziki and a cucumber/dill salad consisting of red onion, chopped tomatoes, dill, cucumber, red wine vinegar, and olive oil—delish!

eating dill herb might be an acquired taste, but once you do get a craving for it, you’ll want to grow it yourself to have a ready supply. Over time, your dill will start to flower in order to produce seeds. You can delay this a bit by constantly harvesting from the top, but eventually nature will take its course, especially as hot weather will cause the plant to bolt. Once your dill plants start to flower, you can also use the edible flowers.

Add them to salads or as a garnish, but you can also use them when making dill pickles. Years ago, I had an overabundance of lemon cucumbers. Canning pickles made a great project for the high school cooking class that I was teaching at the time. We added dill flowers to our pickles, and they looked so pretty showing through the mason jars.

Once your dill plants begin flowering, you’ll attract the attention of pollinators and other beneficial insects. Lacewings are one of those “good bugs” that will be attracted to your garden. They are voracious eaters of the “bad bugs” such as

aphids, mealy bugs, and mites. Dill also plays host to an “ ugly Duckling” of the garden. Look closely and you may find black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars on your dill. At the larva stage, they look like creepy black caterpillars with a white stripe. As they mature, they will resemble monarch

butterfly caterpillars. Of course, we know that milkweed is the only host plant for monarch caterpillars. But on dill plants, the black swallowtail caterpillars will turn into beautiful black butterflies with yellow and blue spots. Add dill plants to your pollinator garden to encourage the good guys to make a home there.

Don’t let the presence of these pollinators scare you off from growing or eating dill. Simply plant enough to share with our garden friends and examine the plants closely before picking for your own consumption. Once the dill flowers go to seed, you can collect the seeds for using in dill pickles or other recipes. You may also want to dry them out and save them for planting the next season. Allow some of the seeds to remain on your dill plants. Though it’s an annual herb, if the soil is not disturbed, dill can reseed in your garden. You may get surprise plants the following spring, then you can start the process all over again.

What’s your favorite way to use dill? We would love to hear about your gardening adventures. Please send your comments, questions, and story ideas to: shorelocalgardener@ gmail.com.

Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.

Fresh dill is a must-have ingredient in homemade tzatziki.

Easy-to-grow dill makes a great addition to your herb or pollinator garden.

Keep calm and run to the best version of yourself

By Krystle J Bailey

Tadris Parker of Galloway is using his passion for running, health, and fitness to make a difference in the community. Through his company, Keep Calm And Run To The Best You, Tadris offers walking and running programs, nutritional support, group race challenges, and a big dose of love and encouragement to people of all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels. From the 57-year-old woman who hasn’t run since high school to the 65-year-old runner now completing 5-mile races, Tadris’ unique approach makes running attainable for everyone.

Growing up, Tadris didn’t have a traditional childhood of sports and family time. Bounced around the system at a young age, Tadris spent most of his upbringing in survival mode. Any family time he did have was typically spent tending to his grandmother and her health needs. The idea of sports hadn’t even crossed his mind until Tadris found himself relocated to Pleasantville, nJ, at 14 years old.

It was there that he discovered his love for basketball in 1989. With plans to try out for the basketball team for the first time as a high school student, he signed up for cross-country to build his endurance. While he hated cross-country and didn’t end up making the basketball team, along the way, he found that he loved to run.

As a young adult and new father, Tadris continued to run for fun, signing up for the occasional 5K and challenging himself to new personal records. The responsibilities of life

continued to pile up, and in 2009, two weeks after the birth of his fourth child, he ruptured his patella tendon. The eye-opener happened at the hospital when Tadris was made aware of the “dad weight” he had put on over the years. This inspired him to not only heal his injury but, ultimately, begin to heal his body.

Run To The Best You was born.

Since then, Tadris has added several new walking and running programs as well as a nutritional guide, Keeping It Real With n utrition. His nutrition plan is a realistic approach to eating that he used to heal his own body and now offers as a guide to help clients reach their fullest potential.

tism. In 2017, Tadris began a 5K powered by his company, Keep Calm And Run To The Best You, in support of South Jersey Field of Dreams. Continuing to give back, Tadris now runs with intention. This year, he is running Disney’s Dopey Challenge with the goal of raising $2,100 for Autism Speaks.

The journey wasn’t what Tadris expected it to be when he set out to play basketball, but it’s one he is proud of.

“You’re always running towards bad health or a healthier version of yourself,” shares Parker. “The best way to predict the future is to create it. I’m trying to give that to the community and give back to people who deserve it.”

By 2012, following complete recovery, Tadris got the itch to run again. Inspired by the stories of overcoming that he would read in Runner’s World Magazine, Tadris knew his story wasn’t done yet. using guidance from Runner’s World “Run Less, Run Faster,” he hit the pavement to run his first 5K in years and ultimately beat his own personal record at the age of 37.

Soon, Tadris began training with his wife, nichol, and creating opportunities for other individuals in the community to come together in the name of health. He created a basic 12-week running challenge for participants, from which Keep Calm And

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Tadris and his clients continued to check in virtually, even running several virtual races together. In February 2021, he led a virtual run that raised awareness and money for the non-profit organization, Faces 4 Au -

Keep Calm And Run To The Best You is based in Galloway, new Jersey, and services all of Atlantic County. Group training at the Stockton u niversity track is every Tuesday at 5:25 and every Thursday at rotating tracks in Absecon. Contact Tadris Parker at RunToTheBestYou.com for more information, or follow him on Facebook at Keep Calm And Run To The Best You.

‘Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs’ reels in community at Patriot Lake

By Julia Train

One hundred children scattered around Patriot Lake in Galloway on Saturday, June 3, with their fishing gear in tow.

The Friends of Forsythe and edwin B. Forsythe national Wildlife Refuge held their 22nd annual “Hooked on Fishing, not on Drugs” (HOFnOD), which is a free fishing derby for children 5-12 years old.

“Fishing is a really great avenue to introduce people to nature or maybe get them back to nature,” said Virginia Rettig, the refuge’s manager for the past 12 years. “It's also really easy and not a very expensive activity”

HOFn OD was a free event with volunteer workers and 16 sponsors, who donated prizes, goodie bags and materials. The Beacon evangelical Free Church next to the park even donated lunch for everyone.

Among the sponsors, four had tables set up to teach the children about alcohol and drug prevention, along with responsible fishing and environmental stewardship.

Children started arriving around 9 a.m. with their fishing rods and tackle boxes, although the actual derby began at 10 a.m.

For that hour between their arrival and the bullhorn’s blare, they visited each station.

“The main thing is we want them to have fun, but above all, it’s called hooked on fishing, not on drugs. So this is why we’re doing it ahead of time.” said Sandy Perchetti, retired volunteer coordinator for 21 years at the edwin B Forsythe Refuge and now a volunteer.

The goal of the event was to inform children about alcohol and drug abuse and show them a different activity in hopes to be a preventative measure.

u pon arrival, the children were given a piece of paper attached to a string that they could wear around their neck. When they completed each station, their card was hole

punched, to signify their completion.

The stations were sponsored by ACuA, Galloway Township police (and cadets), Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen and The Friends of Forsythe.

The ACuA’s station had a trash and recycling bucket, which they dumped the materials out for the children to organize into the correct bin, teaching them what is and isn’t recyclable.

The Galloway Township Police handed out water bottles and goodie bags with an informative coloring book about drug and alcohol prevention and their table.

A member of the Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen sat at a picnic table with handouts and taught the children about responsible fishing.

A volunteer from the Friends of Forsythe had a plastic basin as a vi -

sual for Aquatic ecology, teaching them how contaminants get into waterways.

The final station was also set up by the Friends of Forsythe.

Once they finished the other four stations, they went to their table at the front to show that they were done and received a goodie bag, a t-shirt and a foam fish. They were then ready to start fishing.

The children first filled up the dock, then those that didn’t fit on it spread around the lake.

Once the bullhorn’s siren went off, the derby began. Children, with the help of their chaperones and fishermen spread around the lake, cast their lines.

“They’ll probably be catching a lot of sunfish and largemouth bass,” said Joe Ricciard, president and volunteer at Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen. Ricciardi has been fishing since he was 3 years old and now he works at Bass Pro Shoppes. He wants to teach kids to fish safely, without hurting

There were also awards for a casting competition, largest fish, and sportsmanship

The sportsmanship award was given to the child who displayed those qualities, such as helping someone else or following directions.

Although the wind was blowing their lines

or killing the fish unnecessarily

At his station, he spoke about safe fishing and how to not hurt the fish when taking it off the line.

“You don’t want to take too much of the slime off, because the fish needs it to survive,” Ricciardi told the children at his station. “ either use a wet towel or wet your hands before taking it off.”

each time they caught a fish, they went to one of the many fishermen around the lake for help removing their fish from the line and got their foam fish. Those with the most punches won prizes from 1st-3rd place in two age categories.

around, the children kept their smiles on their faces all around the lake.

“When you provide an opportunity to just come down to the local area here and get your pole and bait and you start fishing, it's just a really easy, pretty straightforward, way to get people back to nature,” said Rettig.

ShopRite LPGA Classic set for 35th tournament

ons. n ordqvist will be trying to become the tournament's second three-time champion with Annika Sorenstam, who won in 1995, 2002 and 2005, respectively.

By David Weinberg

The ShopRite LPGA Classic stands alone as the area's premier sports event.

This week marks the 35th edition of the tournament, which routinely draws thousands of fans to Seaview Hotel and Golf Club's Bay Course.

This year's 144-player field is led by World n o. 1 Jin Young KO, who already has two victories and five top10 finishes in seven events this year. The field also features four other top-10 players in Atthaya Thitikul (6), defending ShopRite Classic champion Brooke Henderson (8), Georgia Hall (9) and Hyo Joo Kim (10).

Henderson, who staged a dramatic rally to win last year's tournament in a playoff, will be seeking to join Anna n ordqvist (2015-16) as the ShopRite Classic's only back-to-back champi -

In addition to Henderson and nordqvist, other past champions expected to compete this week include Mel Reid (2020), Annie Park (2018), In Kyung Kim (2017), Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014) and Angela Stanford (2003).

Teenager Chiara noja and rising u niversity of Florida senior Maisie Filler received sponsor exemptions into the field, as did Philadelphia Cricket Club LPGA Teaching Professional Meaghan Francella.

The action actually starts two days before the actual tournament, when the pro-am takes place. It's by far the largest pro-am on any professional golf tour, with approxmately 300 groups of five - four amateurs and a pro - playing on Seaview's Bay and Pines Courses, as well as nearby Galloway national.

The pro-am is so popular that organizers recruit current and former Symetra Tour players and various other personalties to serve as the "pros."

And whether you're a scratch golfer or can't break 100, tournament officials and sponsors treat you like a star. Paricipants are treated to a armful of swag, plus there's an after-party that this year is being held at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

I've been lucky enough to play in it four times and each round left me with lasting memories. In past years, I was paired with former "The Big Break" contestant elena Robles, former top-ranked LPGA star So Yeon Ryu, former uCLA golfer Brittany Mai, LPGA Tour veteran Julieta Granada and former Symetra Tour member Jennifer n eville.

each round produced a few good shots, a lot of laughs and some funny anecdotes, such as when my group was paired with Robles on the Pines course in 2017. every hole had a tent containing free soft pretzels, hot dogs, water and all the Tito's Vodka you could drink. By the 12th hole, it was tough to see my ball on the tee, let alone make solid contact.

Perhaps my favorite Pro-Am stint was in 2019, when I played with LPGA veteran Julieta Granada and her mother/caddie Rosa. I had first met them in 2005, when Julieta was an 18-year-old senior at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida and was playing the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption. During the round, we shared laughs and bratwursts while somehow managing to finish 10-under par as a team.

The most impressive part of the ShopRite Classic, however, has been its staying power.

Larry and Ruth Harrison were the driving forces behind creating the tournament - once known as the Atlantic City Classic - in 1986. The tournament thrived for 11 years while being held at both Seaview and Greate Bay before a conflict with former LPGA executives over tournament dates prompted a three-year hiatus from 2007-09 until it was resurrected by Tim erensen, Bill Hansen and others.

u nofficially, the contract between the tournament and Seaview is supposed to expire after this year's tournament, but given its immense popularity and importance to the region, it's hard to imagine it not staying in the area for the forseeable future. Hopefully, it will be here for at least another 35 years.

Poppy taking another plunge

It's that time again.

Sunday morning will mark my seventh time participating in the e scape the Cape Triathlon, a unique event that begins with a 12-foot leap off the front of a Cape May-Lewes Ferry vessel into the Delaware Bay.

My 65-year-old body has had to make some adjustments over the years. Instead of doing the Sprint Triathlon event - a .35-mile swim, 12-mile bike, 5K run - I'm signed up for the Sprint Aqua Bike for the second time, assuming I can fit into my wetsuit and cycling pants.

Since my first e scape in 2015, the highlight of the race for me always happens during the bike leg, which takes riders past my son Kyle and daughter-in-law Ashey's house along the canal. I'm counting on my grandsons Hampton (7), Graham (5) and nixon (1 1/2) to be on their front porch cheering for their "Poppy" and perhaps providing a bottle of water during the race and a refreshing beverage afterward.

I'm thinking of scaling back a little bit more for next year and joining a relay team. But that's only if I can be the bike rider on the squad. nothing beats hearing my grandsons during the race.

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

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

Brooke Henderson, winner of last year's tournament

&

at the Shore

Whitney's Weekly Picks

Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25

The City Pulse with Whitney Ullman

There are some really fun happenings, so make sure to support your local venues and get your tickets in advance so you don’t miss out. Oh and feel free to tag me in your photos and videos.

Who: Joe McGinty and The Losers

Lounge

Where: Anchor Rock Club

When: Thursday, June 8

Joe McGinty and The Losers Lounge are a collective of n ew York City’s finest performers who have been selling out live shows every other month for almost 30 years. Part of the n orth to Shore Festival (www. n orthToShore.com)

What: Classic American Tales Presents: “Tales at the Dormer House”

Where: The Dormer House,800 Columbia Ave. in Cape May

When: Thursday, June 8 - Aug. 10 (every Thursday on the front porch)

Time: 4 p.m.

Tickets: $12 cash at the door

Website: ClassicAmericanTales.org Reservations are appreciated, and are made by calling 609-884-5898 or emailing classicamericantales@ aol.com. Children are always wel -

come, and ages 12 and under are free.

Who: Hell’s Belles

Where: Golden nugget

When: Thursday, June 8

Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.goldennugget. com/atlantic-city

Get ready to rock when the all-female AC/DC tribute band takes the stage at The Deck.

Who: Gavin DeGraw and Colbie

Caillat

Where: Adrian Phillips Theater Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

When: Friday, June 9

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.boardwalkhall. com/events

Get ready for a reunion of Grammy winner Colbie Caillat with fel -

low multi-platinum singer/songwriter and actor Gavin DeGraw for a night of breezy pop and blue-eyed soul.

Who: Miss Cantaloupe

Where: Anchor Rock Club Atlantic City

When: Friday, June 9

Time: 7 p.m.

Tickets: $15

Website: www.anchorrockclub.com

Miss Cantaloupe is a Philly troupe of minstrels performing wild theatrics and storytelling with their music where no two shows are alike. They’ll be performing at Anchor Rock Club with AC’s own Molly Ringworm and Gloss.

Who: Daryl Hall with Special Guest Todd Rundgren

Where: Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

When: Friday, June 9 Time: 8 p.m.

Website: borgata.mgmresorts.com

R&B and soul singer Daryl Hall “Dreamtime,” and co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall and Oates and Todd Rundgren, American singer, songwriter “Hello It's Me” are performing live at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.

with the messages she receives from those we love. Tickets are limited and will sell out.

What: Global Grooves Music and Arts in the Park

Where: O’Donnell Park, 3501 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 1 - 7 p.m.

Tickets: FRee and FAMILY FRIenDLY

Website: northtoshore.com/atlantic-city

What: Poetry + Chill | Live Art. Spoken Word. Delicious Pizza. Good Vibes.

Where: union Hall Arts

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

Tickets: FRee enTRY

Website: www.unionhallarts.com

The food and wine are provided by Tony’s Baltimore Grill, and the event is hosted by Krystle Bailey.

Who: The Legendary Bluenotes Featuring Sugar Bear

Where: Rhythm and Spirits

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 9 p.m.

Website: https://rhythmandspirits. com/reservations

This is a FRee event, but reservations are recommended.

Who: Chelsea Handler

Where: Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

When: Saturday, June 10 Time: 9 p.m.

Website: borgata.mgmresorts.com

The n ew Jersey native brings her hilarious standup to the stage at Borgata’s event center.

What: n orth to Shore Festival

Where: Various Venues Across Atlantic City

When: June 4-11

Website: www. n orthtoShore.com

n ew Jersey’s newest, month-long festival features all the talent, diversity and creativity this great state has to offer. Hosted by three incredible and unique cities: Atlantic City (June 4–11), Asbury Park (June 14–18), and n ewark (June 21–25), the n orth to Shore festival will bring together 50 + venues for an over-the-top showcase of Jersey-wide excellence

Who: Jazmine Sullivan, Jhene Aiko with Queen naija and ebony Riley

Where: Boardwalk Hall

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.boardwalkhall.com

Get in on the heat with soulful sovereigns of R&B as part of the amazing n orth to Shore lineup. www.northtoshore.com.

Who: British American rock band, America

Where: Ocean Casino Resort

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.theoceanac.com

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.caesars.com/tropicana-ac/shows

Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Jay Wheeler first became widely known after a video of him singing went viral in 2016. He signed with Dynamic Records in 2018 and released his debut album, “Platónico,” the following year. His second album, “Platónicos,” was released in 2020, and contained the successful single, “La Curiosidad,” featuring Myke Towers.

Who: Low Cut Connie

Where: Anchor Rock Club

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.AnchorRockClub. com

Philly’s Low Cut Connie separated themselves from other new millennial rock and roll revivalists by not taking themselves as seriously as they took their big, danceable rhythms. This event is part of the n orth to Shore Festival (www.northtoshore. com)

What: Hammonton Food Truck Fest

Where: Downtown Hammonton

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 4 - 9 p.m.

Bring your crew and your appetite to Downtown Hammonton. More than 30 trucks will line the streets for a food-and fun-filled evening.

Who: Mike Delguidice and Big Shot

Where: Bally’s Atlantic City

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.Ballysac.com

Who: Lunch with Linda Shields “The Jersey Shore Medium”

Where: Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: n oon - 3 p.m.

Tickets: $55

Website: www.thejerseyshoremedium.com

Come enjoy an all-inclusive lunch and show with Linda Shields - “The Jersey Shore Medium.” Linda is a nationally recognized medium who specializes in communicating with those who have passed. Her show will make you laugh, cry and leave you astonished

What: GM Auto Show

Where: Village Greene at Historic Smithville

When: Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11

Time: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tickets: To enter your car it’s $15 entrance fee in advance or $20 day of the event. FRee for spectators.

Website: www.historicsmithville.com

The show includes any GM powered car. Hosted by Boardwalk Corvettes of A.C.

Grammy-winning British-American rock band, America, takes the stage at Ovation Hall. Don’t miss them live in concert as they bring their uplifting music and positive vibes. Get your tickets before it’s sold out.

e xperience a wildly entertaining evening of Mike DelGuidice and his band Big Shot. They are renowned for performing a show of astonishing renditions of Billy Joel’s songbook, plus songs by elton John, Paul McCartney, Marc Cohn, The Beatles, The eagles, John Denver, James Taylor, and Chicago, plus a few of Mike’s eclectic original songs.

Who: Remember Jones - Bat Out of Hell Live

Where: Resorts Casino Hotel

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.resortsac.com

Remember Jones plays the entire “Bat Out of Hell” album with Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman favorite hits such as “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” “Heaven Can Wait,” and songs from other Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman collaborations. This is part of the n orth to Shore Festival www. northtoshore.com

Who: Jay Wheeler

Where: Tropicana Atlantic City

Who: Haus of Qweens Pridechella

Where: Anchor Rock Club

When: Sunday, June 11

Time: 7 p.m. doors open and showtime is at 8 p.m.

Tickets: $15-$20

Website: www.anchorrockclub.com

Haus of Qweens are known for throwing the best parties with live performances. Daddies and Baddies showcase the sexiest male entertainers and drag performers in the region. June is Pride month, and they are putting the PRID e in PRID eCHeLLA - Atlantic City’s biggest Pride festival. All tickets come with second floor access, which includes a photo booth, exclusive view, and vendors. Live performances by Hollywood Jay, McQween, Fantasy eliz, Milani Gizelle, Monica La Rosa, Diva Divine, Papi Alex and Blaze. DJ DeVenchy we will be on the beat keeping the boogie going all night long.

Who: Tina Faye and Amy PoehlerRestless Leg Tour

Where: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

When: Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11

Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com

Tina Faye and Amy Poehler have been entertaining audiences for decades with their sharp wit, hilarious sketches, and unforgettable performances. n ow they're bringing their unique brand of comedy to Atlantic City for two nights of laughs you won't soon forget.

What: The Golden Girls Murder Mystery

Where: Resorts Casino Hotel

When: June 10

Tickets: $35 + applicable fees

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.resortsac.com

Your favorite ladies from the 80s are back in Atlantic City, and this time Blanche is hosting her annual Hunka Hunka Burnin Love unauthorized elvis Fan Club convention. Things will soon turn deadly, so it’s up to YOu to solve the mystery.

Who: n2S Brunch Party

Where: Rhythm and Spirits 129 S. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City

When: June 10

Tickets: FRee to make a reservation

Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Website: northtoshore.com/event/ n2s-brunch-party

DJ Skyline spins all the classics.

Who: Lunch with Actor Vincent Pastore from “The Soprano’s”

Where: Chico and Sons in northfield

When: Saturday, June 10

Tickets: $50 VIP ticket includes a sit-down, picture, autograph, and

unlimited food and drinks.

Time: n oon - 3 p.m.

Contact: Call 609-380-7788 to reserve your table

What: Atlantic City Truck Meet

Where: Bader Field

When: Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11

Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tickets: $20 sold at the gate

Website: AtlanticCityTruckMeet.org

The 3rd Annual Atlantic City Truck Meet is the largest truck show on the east Coast. Come out for what is sure to be the biggest one yet. For more information follow their Facebook and Instagram at Atlantic City Truck Meet.

What: Hello Summer Bonfire

Where: 26th Street Beach in Brigantine

When: Saturday, June 10

Time: 7:30 p.m.

As the sun sets and the waves crash, the Brigantine Chamber of Commerce invites you to gather for an evening of warmth, camaraderie, and beachside fun. Bring your beach chairs and blankets as an enjoy a mesmerizing community bonfire. There will be s'mores, engaging conversations, and live entertainment that will create lasting memories.

What: Traditional Irish Open Session

Where: Josie Kelly’s Public House in Somers Point

When: Sunday, June 11

Time: 1 - 4 p.m.

Website: Facebook.com/josiekellyspublichouse every Sunday after morning brunch you are invited to stay for a traditional

Outdoor Deck Now Open!

For full promotion details, visit theOceanAC.com or the Ocean Rewards Desk. $350,000 Slot Tournament Series: Open to all Ocean Rewards members. All winners from the Monday $20,000 Slot Tournaments throughout the summer are invited back on September 3 to compete for $70,000 in Free Play prizes. Guests may win in multiple $20,000 Slot Tournaments but will only receive one entry to the Grand Finale $70,000 Slot Tournament on September 3. 10X Free Play: All cardholders will receive 10X their earned Same Day Free Play Every Thursday from June 1 – August 31, 2023. Multiplier can be activated at any Ocean Rewards Kiosk from 12PM – 11:59PM each Thursday. Guests will be able to redeem 1X as Same Day Free Play every Thursday and then the remaining 9X will be available every Friday and valid for 90 days. 10X Free Play is valid on slot play only. Amount multiplied is based on Same Day Free Play earnings from 6AM every Thursday to 5:59AM every Friday. Daily Free Play offer is not the amount multiplied.

Same Day Free Play will expire after 90 days of inactivity. $1,000,000 Sweepstakes: Visit a Rewards Kiosk starting at 12PM each day to activate your free entry and deposit into virtual drum. Winners may be called and win more than once. If a winner fails to claim their prize within 30 minutes, it will be considered void, and the prize will be forfeited. No other winners will be called. Tesla Sweepstakes

CIRCLE LIQUOR STORE

Cheers To Summer!

↘Continued from 48

Irish open session at 1 p.m. Musicians will gather with guitars, bodhráns, fiddles, squeeze boxes, mandolins, and tin whistles to set the tone for enjoying a few pints of Guinness.

What: The Boogie Daze Dance Party

Hosted by Boogie nights

Where: The Chelsea Pool at Tropicana

When: Sunday, June 11

Time: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Website: BoogienightsAC.com enjoy the Boogie Daze dance party at The Chelsea Pool with fishbowl souvenir cocktails, hula hoop contests, relay races and nonstop entertainment from the Boogie nights crew. Come dressed in your best retro swimwear for a chance to win prizes.

What: Ventnor Summer Beach Jam

Where: n ewport Avenue Beach

When: every Saturday until Sept. 2

Time: 5 - 9 p.m.

Website: ventnor.recdesk.com (to be a vendor)

This Ventnor City Summer Beach

Concert is a FR ee family friendly, outdoor live music experience which includes food trucks and crafters. It’s also on the beach between the Ventnor Boardwalk and the Ventnor Library which includes a playground.

What: The Black e xcellence Festival n ext Week

Where: Showboat Resort in Atlantic City

When: Friday June 16 - Sunday June 18

Website: www.TheBeFestival.com

It’s more than a festival, it’s an experience.

What: AC Jokes Comedy Clubs

Where: Kiss Kiss nightclub and Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City

When: every night

Time: Various Times

Website: www.ACJokes.com

AC Jokes includes some of the east Coast's best comedians and producers featuring Mike Merk, Zach Pickert and Buda the Comedian. Pulled together by 20-year comedy veteran Matt Bridgestone, their combined experience delivers innovative street smarts and a guerrilla marketing style that has made AC Jokes a unique entity in the city.

Who: Dueling Pianos

Where: Spirit Bar at Showboat Resort in Atlantic City

When: Fridays and Saturdays in June

Time: 7 - 11 p.m.

Website: www.paulpiano.net

Check out the dueling pianos featuring the talented Paul Marturano. See the website for a full schedule.

Atlantic City Headliners

Friday, June 9th

Colbie Caillat + Gavin DeGraw

8pm. Adrian Philips Theater at Boardwalk Hall

Daryl Hall and the Daryl’s House Band w/ Todd Rundgren 8pm

Borgata event Center

Umberto Tozzi 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Saturday, June 10th

America 8pm

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Chelsea Handler: The LBB Tour

8pm

Borgata event Center

Christopher Cross & Justin Hayward

8pm Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Jay Wheeler 8pm & 11:30pm

Tropicana Showroom

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless

Leg Tour 7pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Sunday, June 11th

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless

Leg Tour 7pm.

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Friday, June 16th

Nancy Wilson’s Heart 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Buddy Guy 9pm

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Saturday, June 17th

50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Mix

Tape Live w/ DJ Jazzy Jeff, Doug

E. Fresh, Melle Mel and More 7pm

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

Sunil Grover 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

The Platters, The Coasters and

The Drifters Revue 9pm

Golden nugget

Friday, June 23rd

38 Special 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Gladys Knight 8pm

Borgata event Center

Tears For Fears w/ Cold War Kids

8pm

Friday, July 7th

Comedian Anthony Jeselnik

7pm & 10pm

The Music Box at Borgata

Bill Burr Live 8pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Rumours: a Fleetwood Mac

Tribute 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Ice Cube 9pm

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

The Pettybreakers 9pm

Harrah’s Atlantic City

Saturday, July 8th

Bill Burr Live 8pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Straight No Chaser: The Yacht

Rock Tour 8pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Comedian Kathleen Madigan

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Fifth Dimension 9pm

Superstar Theater at Resorts

Saturday, June 24th

Lettuce & Steel Pulse w/ Makua

Rothman 7:30pm

Sound Waves at Hard Rock

Diana Ross 8pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Friday, June 30th

Kevin Hart: Reality Check 8pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

Joe Satriani 9pm

The Music Box at Borgata

The Australian Pink Floyd Show:

Darkside 50 9pm

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Saturday, July 1st

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

7pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

9pm

The Music Box at Borgata

The Grass Roots 9pm

Golden nugget

On-Sale This Week

Chaka Khan

▶Thursday, August 24th at 8pm

Hard Rock Live at etess Arena

On-Sale Friday at 10am

Tracy Morgan

▶Friday, October 13th at 9pm

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

On-Sale Friday at 10am

Chris Distefano: Right Intention, Wrong Move

▶Friday, August 18th at 9pm & Saturday, August 19th at 7pm

The Music Box at Borgata

On-Sale Friday at 10am

Rickey Smiley & Friends

▶Friday, September 8th at 9pm

Harrah’s Atlantic City

On-Sale Friday at 10am

Spritzing through summer!

Drink Up with David Setley

In beautiful Southern n ew Jersey, summer means flip-flops, beach days, family picnics, evenings on the porch, and…traffic. When I was a child, summer meant afternoons at the pool or playing in the backyard with my siblings, spritzing each other with the garden hose to cool off. Last year, when my wife and I vacationed in Italy, we became entrenched in the Italian tradition of “taking a spritz” to beat the heat. A far cry from the garden hose, the spritz is a refreshing beverage, ideal for summer months.

Venice claims to be the birthplace of the spritz. While that claim is contested by other parts of n orthern Italy, one thing is agreed upon: Spritzes were introduced by Austrian workers temporarily on assignment in n orthern Italy. Italian wines were stronger and more full-bodied than Austrians were accustomed to drinking, so they spritzed the wine. Spritz simply meant adding soda water to lighten the wine. Voila, the wine spritzer was born. Italians took things a step further, adding soda water and

prosecco to bitters or aperitives to create the refreshing summer drink now known as the spritz. What started in the northern regions has spread throughout Italy. When we were there, there was not a single drinking establishment that didn’t offer a variety of spritzes on their menu. As all good researchers do, I think we tried them all!

The two most common Italian spritzes are the Aperol Spritz and the Campari Spritz. Both are quite simple to make, and the ingredients are easy to find. The exact recipes vary between establishments, but my favorite is the 3-2-1. Three ounces of prosecco, two ounces of Aperol (or Campari), and one ounce of soda water/club soda. We often saw these garnished with a slice of orange and, occasionally, with an olive. Additional variations can be made using Cynar Ricetta Originale, an artichoke-based bitter, or Fernet-Branca Amaro, a bitter, herbal Italian liquor, in place of the Aperol. Or, for an Italian variation on the classic Campari Spritz, try the Bicicletta, which uses Campari and still white wine in place of the prosecco. Pinot grigio is a common choice for this drink, but I would encourage you to try a different Italian white, such as Vernaccia di San Gimignano or pecorino, as your base. If you are not a fan of “bubbles,” the Bicicletta is a less bubbly, but equally refreshing option.

A newer option that we saw throughout Italy was the Hugo Spritz,

a refreshing drink that uses St. Germain elderflower liqueur in place of the bitters. The recipe is a bit more involved, but far from difficult. Add a half ounce of St. Germain and a sprig of fresh mint to your wine glass. Gently muddle to release the essence of the mint. Then add ice, 4 ounces of prosecco and 1 ounce of soda water; garnish with another mint sprig and a thin slice of lemon or lime (or both). These are very refreshing and somewhat reminiscent of a mojito cocktail. Areas in the u nited States are adding their own variation on spritzes. In Seattle, the Channel Orange takes three-fourths of an ounce of

n egroni (which is equal parts sweet vermouth, gin and Campari), half an ounce of blood orange liquor (Grand Marnier would work), one-fourth of an ounce of pomegranate liquor, 3 ounces prosecco, and 1 ounce of grapefruit soda with a grapefruit twist as a garnish. If these ingredients are unfamiliar to you, stop in at Passion Vines for a hand. Probably the most unusual and intriguing alternative I have found in my research is the Tomato Spritz. You read that right. Tomato! This cocktail can be found on the bar menu at Saxon + Parole in the Bowery in n ew York City. The ingredients are a one-fourth ounce of gin, 2 ounces extra-dry vermouth, 1 ½ ounces tomato water, 2 ounces prosecco, and club soda to top it off. Garnish with halved cherry tomatoes and a bit of parsley. Can I count this as a salad?

There are no rules to “spritzing through summer.” The variations are only limited by your imagination and taste. e xperiment and find your favorite(s)! As always, contact me with any questions at dsetley@passionvines.com, or stop into the store. until next time, happy spritzing!

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

Free Outdoor Concerts

Somers Point Beach Concert Series

▶Fridays at 7pm

William Morrow Beach

The Somers Point Beach Concert Series is hosting a very special concert featuring John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, the original multi-platinum eddie and the Cruisers recording artists, dedicating their new record “A Day in the Sun.” The show is part of the Victory Celebration as the #1 Best Outdoor Concert Series by uSA Today and kicks off the 30th Anniversary of Concerts on the Beach. View the entire schedule at somerspointbeachconcerts.com.

Live Jazz on the Atlantic City Boardwalk

▶Saturday, June 10th at 12pm

Kennedy Plaza 2300 Boardwalk Atlantic City

Join the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation for a special Summer Jazz Concert on the Kennedy Plaza Stage at Missouri Avenue between Mississippi and Georgia Avenues. The event will take place at 12pm with music by Tim Warfield and Terell Stafford featuring the Temple All-Stars. Global Grooves Music & Arts in the Park

▶Saturday, June 10th from 1-7pm

O’Donnell Park 3501 Atlantic Ave. Atlantic City

Chelsea eDC and the Atlantic City Arts Commission host Global Grooves, a celebration of the vibrant and diverse Chelsea neighborhood, featuring high-energy live music, multicultural performances, food, vendors, and interactive art for the whole family. Hosted by Atlantic City’s Yoely Quezada and Petey Rancel with special performances by Worldtown Soundsystem, Dynesty Alliance, Magdaliz and Her Latin ensemble Crisol, Mlanjeni Magical Theater and DJ Jose. Plus, dance lessons, face painting, chalk art, local artists, and food trucks.

Ventnor City Summer Beach Jam

▶Saturdays at 6pm

n ewport Avenue Beach

Listen to live music on the beach. The Summer Beach Jam is held behind the Ventnor Library and Cultural Arts Center. This week, enjoy live music by no Pressure. Live music begins at 6pm, with food and crafters ready to serve you at 5pm.

South Jersey Jazz Society Beach

Concert: Edgardo Cintron’s Mambo Magic

▶Wednesday, June 14th at 7pm

William Morrow Beach

South Jersey Jazz Society presents a special Beach Concert, featuring edgardo Cintron’s Mambo

Magic. Known as much for his affable personality and generous spirit as for his tasty musicianship, edgardo has created his new band, Mambo Magic, in 2023 featuring the music of the great Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, eddie Palmieri, Spyro Gyra and more. This amazing night of music will take place this Wednesday. Additional information is available at southjerseyjazz.org.

Brigantine Summer Concert Series

▶Wednesday, June 21st at 7pm

Brigantine Community Center

Lawn 265 42nd St.

Brigantine Community education and Recreation will host free outdoor concerts on the Community Center lawn. next Wednesday, enjoy live music featuring The Lighthouse 8 band. Bring a chair or blanket. All concerts will be held outside, weather permitting. For more information, call the recreation office at 609-264-7350 ext. 1.

EHT Rhythm in the Park Concert Series

▶Friday, June 23rd at 7pm

Robert J. Lincoln Amphitheater at Tony Canale Park

The Rhythm in the Park Concert Series returns in two weeks. Get ready to enjoy live music by South

Jersey’s own B’JAM, playing all of your favorite top 40 hits.

Absecon Concerts in the Park

▶Sunday, June 25th at 7pm

Heritage Park 699 Blenheim Ave.

The City of Absecon presents Concerts in the Park. The first concert of the season starts in two weeks, with live music from Poor Mouth Henry, playing classic rock, country rock and blues. The concert starts at 7pm. Bring your own chair or blanket. Fun, friends, food, and free admission.

Mardi Gras AC

▶Wednesday, June 28th from 7-10pm

Kennedy Plaza 2300 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Mardi Gras AC returns to the Atlantic City Boardwalk for world-class free concerts this summer. In may be called Mardi Gras, but it’s more like n OLA Jazzfest at the Jersey Shore. On Wednesday, June 28th, enjoy live music by Jethro Tull founding member Martin Barre’s Jethro Tull as he plays the music of their own Progressive British Rock History, with support from hot, young, Jersey Shore rockers, Hot Mezz. Free concerts, cheap parking, and beverage garden adjacent. For more information, visit tonymart.com.

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, June 8th

Atley Moon & The Say Somethings

6-9:30pm. The Yard at Yesterday’s

Creekside Tavern

316 Roosevelt Blvd. Marmora

Beth Tinnon 6-9pm

Ftizpatrick’s Deli and Steakhouse

650 new Rd. Somers Point

Doug Jennings 6-9pm. Bocca

7805 Ventnor Ave. Margate

John Wood 6-9pm. Gregory’s 900 Shore Rd. Somers Point

Christian Glomb 7-11pm. The Point 998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

The Exceptions 7-11pm

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Twisted Livin’ 7-8:30pm. noyes Arts

Garage. 2200 Fairmount Ave. Atlantic City

Hell’s Belles 8pm. The Deck at Golden nugget. 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Karaoke Hosted by Mike Dempsey 8pm-

12am. Caroline’s by the Bay 450 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Joe McGinty and The Losers Lounge 8pm.

Anchor Rock Club

247 S. new York Ave. Atlantic City

Friday, June 9th

Brian McConnell 4-7pm. The Point 998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Jazz Night with Three Easy Pieces 5-8pm.

Bar One at Resorts Casino

1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Turning the Tide 5-9pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Brandon Ireland Band 6pm. Villain & Saint at Ocean. 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Dead Reckoning 6-9pm. Robert’s Place

7807 Ventnor Ave. Margate

Originaire Duo 6-10pm

Rush Lounge at Golden nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Adam Holcombe 6:30-10:30pm

The Pub at St. George’s

4282 Harbor Beach Blvd. Brigantine

Steve Moore & The MIA Band 6:30-10pm

Ventura’s Greenhouse

106 S. Benson Ave. Margate

Somers Point Beach Concert Series: John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band 7pm. William Morrow Beach

Miss Cantaloupe, Molly Ringworm, Gloss

7pm. Anchor Rock Club

247 S. new York Ave. Atlantic City

Fat Mezz 7pm. nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Goody Blue Shoes 7-11pm. Sweetwater

Riverdeck. 2780 7th Ave. Sweetwater

Usual Suspects 7-11pm. The Point

998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Cat 5 7:30pm. The Deck at Golden nugget

600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Eddie Morgan’s Trio 7:30pm. Kelsey’s

1545 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Jump the Line Band 8pm-12am

Caroline’s by the Bay

450 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Amanda and Teddy Duo 9pm

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Daddy Pop 10pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Laura Lea & Tripp Fabulous 10pm. Villain & Saint at Ocean. 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Lost in Paris 10pm. Mountain Bar at Caesars

2100 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Pulse 10pm. The Yard at Bally’s

1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

3AM Tokyo 11pm. nola’s Bar at Ocean

500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Saturday, June 10th

Ian and Christina 12-4pm. Sweetwater

Riverdeck. 2780 7th Ave. Sweetwater

Tim Warfield & Terrell Stafford feat. The Temple All-Stars 12-1:30pm. Kennedy Plaza. 2300 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Dane Anthony Band 1-4:30pm

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

The Cason Express Show Band 2-4pm

Kennedy Plaza

2300 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Party Wave 2:30-6:30pm. The Deck at Golden nugget. 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Twisted Livin’ Band 3-7pm. Caroline’s by the Bay. 450 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Angela Burton and Passion 4-5:30pm

Kennedy Plaza

2300 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

DJ Perri Angelouzzi 4-7pm. The Point

998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Anthony Krizan of the Spin Doctors

5-8pm. Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall

133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Blue Street 5-9pm. Rush Lounge at Golden

nugget. 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Geri Mingori Band 5-8pm. Bar One at Resorts Casino. 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Beth Tinnon 5:30-8:30pm. Atlantic County Country Club. 1 Leo Frazer Dr. northfield

Se73n Band 5:30-9pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Ventnor Summer Beach Jam: No Pressure 6pm. newport Avenue Beach

Black Car Gina Trio 6pm. Villain & Saint at Ocean. 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Stealing Savannah 6-10pm. Sweetwater Riverdeck. 2780 7th Ave. Sweetwater

Low Cut Connie 7pm. Anchor Rock Club

247 S. new York Ave. Atlantic City

80’s Revolution 7-11pm. The Point

998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

The Rockets 7pm. nola’s Bar at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Vickie Austin & Mr. D 7:30-11:30pm

The Pub at St. George’s

4282 Harbor Beach Blvd. Brigantine

Don’t Call Me Francis 8pm. The Deck at Golden nugget. 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City Bar None Band 8:30pm-12:30am. Caroline’s by the Bay. 450 Bay Ave. Somers Point

The Legendary Blue Notes 9pm. Rhythm & Spirits. 129 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Resurrextion: Allman Brothers Tribute w/ Sandy Mack 9pm Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall 133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

Don’t Call Me Francis 10pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Goodman Fiske 10pm. The Yard at Bally’s 1900 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Stereo Social Club 10pm. Mountain Bar at Caesars. 2100 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

The Blitz 10pm. Villain & Saint at Ocean 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Flip Like Wilson 11pm. Villain & Saint at Ocean. 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Sunday, June 11th

Traditional Irish Open Session 12-4pm Josie Kelly’s Public House 908 Shore Rd. Somers Point

Big Hix 2-6pm. Sweetwater Riverdeck 2780 7th Ave. Sweetwater

The Exceptions 2:30-6:30pm

The Deck at Golden nugget 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Brandon Ireland Band 3-7pm. Caroline’s by the Bay. 450 Bay Ave. Somers Point

BMW+ 4-7:30pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

DJ Eddie Tully 5-9pm. Vagabond 672 n . Trenton Ave. Atlantic City

The Indelible Groove 5:30pm. Tuckahoe Inn 1 Harbor Rd. Beesley’s Point

Tony Day and Across the Globe 6-9pm Kelsey’s. 1545 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

Weir-Wolves 6-9pm. Tennessee Avenue

Beer Hall. 133 S. Tennessee Ave. Atlantic City

The Verdict 7-11pm. The Point 998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

I&I Riddim 8pm. Mountain Bar at Caesars 2100 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City

The Neptunes 8:30pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Monday, June 12th

Big House 7-11pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Perry Curcio 7-11pm. The Point 998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Red 7-11pm. Rush Lounge at Golden nugget 600 Huron Ave. Atlantic City

Tuesday, June 13th

Brian Elliot 7-11pm. The Point 998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Dane Anthony Band 7-11pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Wednesday, June 14th

San Noche 5:30pm. Tuckahoe Inn 1 Harbor Rd. Beesley’s Point

Colin York 6-9pm. Sweetwater Riverdeck 2780 7th Ave. Sweetwater

Edgardo Cintron’s Mambo Magic 7pm William Morrow Beach

715 Bay Ave. Somers Point

Black Car Gina 7-11pm. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City

Brandon Ireland 7-11pm. The Point 998 Bay Ave. Somers Point

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

Open Mic Hosted by Blue Eagle 8pm-12am Caroline’s by the Bay 450 Bay Ave. Somers Point Events subject to change.

Why we need comedy more than ever

By Matt Bridgestone

Standup Comedy has exploded in recent years. The biggest comedians used to play in medium-sized theaters, but now they are selling out sports arenas. n etflix, podcasts, and social media have also played a big role in its increased popularity. Beyond comedy being more readily accessible, it is also benefiting from being the right genre at the right time. Coming out of the pandemic, people simply want to laugh. There is also a backlash against the media putting out content that is skewed for the sake of ratings. You see this in the firing of such established talking heads as Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. While comedy does struggle against the current climate of cancel culture, many people are gravitating towards it because of its genuine quality. Comics get paid to speak about things that would get most people fired from their day jobs. This is why comedians are emerging as some of the most influential voices in today's society. Music used to have that role with artists like John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Public enemy to name a few. Record companies now don’t want to take those risks

opting to play it safe for big profits over social commentary. Hollywood has gravitated toward superhero and kids’ movies because when you put two hundred million dollars into something, you don’t want to gamble on it backfiring. Comedy is taking advantage of this by emerging as the platform that’s able to tackle the topics that other mediums are afraid to touch.

Any comedian will tell you that beyond laughter, the best compliment a comic can hear is that what they said was “so true.” When a comedian is at their best, they say the things that many wish they could say but are afraid to. Yes, some people are offended by some of the edgier acts, but that’s because the truth hurts. Sometimes you get reckless ones that look to offend for shock value.

True comedians, who take their craft seriously, don’t particularly like that either. However, you also get brilliant original thinkers that are not afraid to take creative risks and push the envelope of what can be achieved by putting a creative funny spin on things. My comic pick of the week to check out is Roy Wood Jr. He has replaced Trevor noah as the host of the “Daily Show” on Comedy Central. He offers a fresh and fearless perspective. Recently at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, he offered up this razor-sharp jab: “This is America. We don’t pass laws. You make a promise to voters, and then you don’t do it. That’s what the great leaders in this room understand.” In this one line, he shows why the pen is mightier than the sword. He is mocking those who got elected by saying they lied to get there while at the same time praising them for understanding how to play the game of American politics. It’s uncomfortably edgy but has the truth behind it to back it up. The guts to say this, especially in that setting, is a hilarious use of comedy at its finest.

Catch Matt Bridgestone performing regularly in Atlantic City by visiting ACJokes.com.

JUNE 9 VICTORY CELEBRATION: #1 ON OUR 30TH!

JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND ORIGINAL MULTI PLATINUM "EDDIE & THE CRUISERS" RECORDING ARTISTS DEDICATING THEIR NEW RECORD “A DAY IN THE SUN”

JUNE 16 CURTIS SALGADO

“THE MAN WHO TAUGHT THE BLUES TO THE BLUES BROTHERS” MULTI AWARD WINNING R&B, FUNK AND SOUL BLUES STAR

JUNE 23 THE TONY MART ALLSTARS “EVERYBODY LOVES ERNIE” CLASSIC ROCK GUITAR TRIBUTE TO CLAYPTON-SANTANAHENDRIX-THE ALLMAN BROTHERS-JOE WALSHSTEVIE RAY VAUGHN-GEORGE

HARRISON-JOHN LENNON-STEVEN STILLS

JUNE 30 MARTIN BARRE’S MUSICAL HISTORY OF JETHRO TULL FOUNDING MEMBERS TRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN PROGRESSIVE BRITISH ROCK LEGACY

THE SSP’S START THE ROCK ‘N ROLL PARTY

JULY 4 THE BILLY WALTON BAND

MICHAEL “TUNES” ANTUNES

SAXOPHONE STAR OF “EDDIE & THE CRUISERS”

JULY 7 MARDI GRAS IN JULY STARRING JAMES ANDREWS FROM “TROMBONE SHORTY” AND “TREME” TV MUSICAL FAMILY JOE KROWN TRIBUTE TO DR JOHN, PROFESSOR LONGHAIR ALLEN TOUSSAINT & JAMES BOOKER

JULY 14 THE WEEKLINGS BEATLES MUSIC WITH GLEN BURTNIK-STAR OF BROADWAY’S BEATLEMANIA, STYX AND ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

JULY 21 THE DANE ANTHONY BAND PREMIERE NORTHEAST PARTY DANCE BANDTODAY'S DANCE, FUNK, CLASSIC ROCK, MOTOWN, DISCO

JULY 28 GARY US BONDS AND THE ROADHOUSE ROCKERS DICK CLARK TO BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: LIVING LEGACY & MILLION SELLING CLASSIC ROCK STAR THE HILARIOUS REV BILLY C. WIRTZ ROCKIN’ BOOGIE WOOGIE PIANO ENTERTAINER

AUG 4 STANLEY JORDAN “STANLEY PLAYS JIMI” ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST GUITARISTS PAYS TRIBUTE TO HENDRIX

THE BRANDON IRELAND BAND WITH “BIG BOB” ERNANO

AUG 11 TERRANCE SIMIEN & THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE

2 TIME GRAMMY WINNERS:

WORLD MUSIC, REGGAE, CLASSIC ROCK

AUG 18 TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAIN KILLERS

MULTI AWARD WINNING

“BB KING ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR”

AUG 25 TOM HAMBRIDGE & THE RATTLE SNAKES

FOUR TIME GRAMMY WINNER PERFORMED WITH BUDDY GUY, MICK JAGGER, PRESIDENT OBAMA, BB KING & HUNDREDS OF STARS

THE E STREET SHUFFLE

PREMIERE SPRINGSTEEN TRIBUTE PARTY BAND

SEPT 1 RED

HOT NEW ALLSTAR SUPER GROUP WITH PATTY BALBO

80’S TRIBUTE – HEART-PRETENDERS-PAT BENATARJANIS JOPLIN CLASSIC PSYCHEDELIC ROCK

SEPT 8 CYRIL NEVILLE WITH OMARI NEVILLE & THE FUEL GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD RECIPIENT WORLD RENOWN STAR OF NEW ORLEANS R&B, FUNK & SOUL THE ONLY “NEVILLE BROTHER” STILL PERFORMING!

THE JIMMY BROGAN BAND POPULAR JERSEY SHORE ROCKIN’ PARTY BAND

New book celebrates Chicken Bone Beach

celebrated the release of her new book, “Images of America, Chicken Bone Beach.”

Summer's here and so are the tourists, great events and Freeze Frame.

every week with camera in tow, Freeze Frame will bring Shore Local readers to some of Atlantic City's great summer events, openings and neighborhood celebrations.

On Sunday June 4, Henrietta Shelton, the mind behind The Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation

Approximately 115 people packed into The n oyes Arts Garage to see an interview with Shelton, enjoy some food and listen to The Tony Day Trio as well as a collection of performances from young people who are taught jazz through the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation's educational programs.

Many of those attending also waited in line to purchase the new book and waited again to have Shelton sign their copy.

The new book is available on Amazon. You can always find more information about Chicken Bone Beach at www.ChickenBoneBeach.org.

Upgrade your coffee game and treat your taste buds to the delicious, premium coffee they deserve. We roast on-site everyday! Don't settle for less when it comes to your daily caffeine fix. We serve single origin, 100% organic coffee every single day.

Black Turtle Coffee's subscription service is now available for the convenience of having fresh, high-quality coffee delivered right to your door.

Second location in Philly Coming Soon!

(609)887-5017 • 3101 Revere Blvd. Brigantine • blackturtlecoffee.com

Our entire menu is chef-curated, with only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Hand-crafted and made-to-order burgers made fresh, never frozen with 100% natural Certified Angus Beef steak patties.

Shoobie Shake® milkshakes are shaking up the game! A milkshake topped with a big slice of cheesecake? A magical cloud of cotton candy? Oreos, M&M’s, or Nerds pressed into the side of the glass? Yes, indeed. Our Shoobie Shake® milkshakes are truly works of art, and you probably need one.

(609)453-7200

3101 Revere Blvd. Brigantine www.kookburger.com

Second

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

“The best coffee I’ve ever tasted” …says just about everyone.

Freeze Frame

with Raymond Tyler

Henrietta Shelton poses in front of the display for her book event at The Noyes.

Kaleem Shabazz, Atlantic City councilman and president of Atlantic City Chapter of the NAACP, fellow council member Jennie Wasserman, who is also producer, programming and project director of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

AC's own Tony Day gives the crowd at The Noyes Arts Garage a funky break at the book signing.

Heather Perez, left, special collections librarian from Stockton University's Richard E. Bjork Library with Maureen Frank, retired director of the Atlantic City Public Library.

Latin artist Ricardo Morales plays Boardwalk Hall

Singer-songwriter

e dgar Ricardo Arjona Morales

better known as Ricardo Arjona of Guatemala, performed to a near capacity crowd in Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on Saturday June 4th in Atlantic City. Arjona is widely known as one of the most successful Latin American artists of all time, with more than 20 million records sold.

Photos by Tom Briglia/ PhotoGraphics

Five Places to Spend Your Happiest Hours in Somers Point

7.5 oz. martinis poured to a meniscus, The Doc’s Place is a spectacular spot for your happiest hours. With an enormous wine list and plenty of delicious appetizers, there’s no place happier than a bar stool at The Doc’s Place.

By Danielle Davies

With summer on the horizon, many of us have visions of beach bars and tiki lounges. And while we are pumped for all the seasonal nightlife additions that have us channeling visions of island paradise, we still love ourselves a nice, well-done drink to kick off an epic evening. While happy hours tend to disappear from summers at the shore, there’s no reason not to enjoy your own (sans the discounted prices, of course). Here, five places to spend your happy — even, dare we say, happiest? — hours in Somers Point.

Queen Jayne’s Lounge & Royal Drinkery Queen Jayne’s might be new to the area, but the man behind it — Michael Bray — is hardly a stranger. The owner of PassionVines certainly

knows spirits and at Queen Jayne’s, Bray’s expertise is showcased with items like Somers Comin’, made with Hendrick’s Gin, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, lime, cucumber, mint and eucalyptus and Queen Jayne’s Cosmo, made with Albany Vodka, Cointreau, hibiscus and lime. enjoy a seasonal charcuterie board or some smoked salmon while over cocktails — you’ll never want to leave this hip and intimate gem. Located at 264 new Road, Somers Point. QueenJaynes.com

The Doc’s Place Known for their

Try the Vanilla Pineapple Martini, made with Stoli Vanil Vodka, St. Germain, pineapple juice and fresh squeezed lemon juice with a sugar rim, or a glass of Spellbound Cabernet with some grilled brie or sashimi tuna. You really can’t go wrong. Located at 646 Bay Ave., Somers Point. TheDocsPlace.com

The Crab Trap While boaters flock to Crabby Jack’s Bayside Bar, serious diners head inside to the iconic Crab Trap for seafood specialties galore. Those of us at Shore Local find ourselves quite happy at the Crab Trap bar, regardless of the hour. We recommend trying the Oysters on the Half Shell and pairing them with an icy cold, totally classic Vodka Tonic. Voila – you’ll be happy indeed. Located at 2 Broadway, Somers Point. TheCrabTrap.com

Caroline’s by the Bay Caroline’s isn’t fine dining, but it’s absolutely fun dining, especially with a lively bar and near-daily live music. Get there this week for Jump the Line Band on Friday, Twisted Living Band and Bar none Band on Saturday and Brandon Ireland Band on Sunday as well as icy cold drafts of evil Genius #Adulting PIA and Mango Kart — there’s nothing happier than good times with good friends. Located at 450 Bay Ave., Somers Point. CarolinesnJ.com

Charlie’s Bar and Restaurant

Known as the best place — hands down

— to get the most mouth-watering chicken wings and tenders, Charlie’s is simply legendary. And their Orange Crush, made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, fresh squeezed orange juice, triple sec and a splash of club, is no less extraordinary. Pair that specialty up with the Crabby Mac and you’re all set for a long and happy night ahead of you. Located at 800 Shore Rd., Somers Point. CharliesBar.com

Danielle's been a writer and storyteller for the past fifteen years—her work has appeared everywhere from Philadelphia Style Magazine and The Press of Atlantic City to Cape May Magazine and The WC Press in West Chester. Nationally, her short stories have been published in Typehouse Magazine and Scary Mommy. She lives in South Jersey with her husband and two children.

Before The Blues Brothers there was Curtis Salgado

16, in a free show. “He (Belushi) said, ‘You remind me of a friend of mine, and he plays harmonica, too – his name is Dan Akroyd.’ I thought, ‘Who cares: every hippie in town plays harmonica’.

Tune In, Turn On

By Doug Deutsch

It’s well known that late actor/“Saturday night Live” star John Belushi was a big music fan; he was responsible for bringing notorious San Francisco punk group Fear to perform on Sn L in 1981, still considered one of punk’s iconic TV moments. Less known is that Belushi enlisted the aid of vocalist extraordinaire Curtis Salgado to learn how to sing the blues.

“In 1977, John Belushi was in eugene filming ‘Animal House’. During a downtime in production, Belushi caught our band, The nighthawks (I was the front man at the time), and after our performance, I was introduced to him by a member of the audience,” said Salgado in a recent email interview. “I had no idea who he was because musicians work on Saturday night. I had never watched ‘Saturday night Live’. I never even heard of it.

“John greeted me, and we shook hands,” recalls Salgado, who will perform in the Somers Point Concerts on the Beach series (Bay and n ew Jersey avenues) 7 p.m. Friday, June

“We ended up becoming friends,” recalls Salgado. “He called me up a few days after we met and asked me to come over and have dinner with him and his wife Judy. And to bring my records.

“Once I started sharing the recordings of the blues masters from my collection and sharing some of the history of blues and R&B, what and why these musicians were/are so important, well, he (Belushi) soaked up the music like a sponge, and used this to portray ‘Joliet’ Jake in ‘The Blues Brothers’ – first as a skit on ‘Saturday night Live,’ then a best-selling record album (which was dedicated to me), and finally in the movie. Cab Calloway’s character was named Curtis – which was a very gracious and cool thing to do. Thanks to John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.”

Salgado, 69, has also enjoyed a stellar recording career, winning Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year in 2022 and again in 2023 from the prestigious Blues Music Awards.

“Validation is a wonderful thing for the human spirit; everybody should be validated for a job well done or jobs that are hard to do and worthy of praise,” he said. Salgado’s most recent recording, “Damage Control”

(Alligator), dropped in 2021.

Salgado is no stranger to the Jersey Shore.

“I’ve played Somers Point many times. It’s one of my favorite gigs in my career. I made some wonderful friends, like my lifelong friends, Car men and nancy Marotta. I just love it, and there’s so much history as well. Last year I played for the first time on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and we had ourselves a ball. They got it all going on this year. They're putting on Louisiana and n ew Orleans per formance artists. How hip is that?”

News ‘n’ Notes: Dropkick Murphys killed it during Session n o.1 at the two-day Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival last weekend. Jon Hender son and staff are to be commended for a job well done…catch AC’s First Lady of R&B/Soul, Angela Burton and Passion on June 10 (4 p.m.) on the Boardwalk at Chicken Bone Beach, part of the n orth to Shore Festival… Hear Molly Ringworm’s tight new sin -

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.

gle, “Down/Out” (Release date June 13, Kidokoro Records) when they perform at Anchor Rock Club June 9 with Miss Cantaloupe, also part of

Curtis Salgado, ‘the man who taught the blues to The Blues Brothers,’ comes to Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point June 16.

More free concerts, Gumbo Fest coming to Point; free concerts in AC

The City of Somers Point and its Beach Concert Committee has expanded the concert schedule, announcing that John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown band will open the series June 9.

The Somers Point Concerts on the Beach was recently named Best Outdoor Concert Series in America 2023 by uSA Today.

June 9: John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band

In response to tremendous demand, the City of Somers Point and the Somers Point Beach Concert Committee will produce a free special celebration concert starring John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on a special event, just announced for 7 p.m. Friday June 9.

You’ll hear your favorite “ eddie and the Cruisers” and John Cafferty songs and the premiere of their latest recording, “A Day in the Sun,” perfect for Somers Point in the summer.

With “ eddie and the Cruisers” recording artists John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band blasting off the season on June 9, and Cyril n eville, living legend of n ew Orleans R&B/ funk and The n eville Brothers, and The Meters performing the finale of the season on Sept. 8, the upcoming season will be worth of its status of best in America.

June 14: Edgardo Cintron’s Mambo Magic Band

The Beach Concert Committee and the City of Somers Point, are joining forces with the founder of the Somers Point Beach Concerts, nick Regine, president of the South Jersey Jazz Society to produce edgardo Cintron’s Mambo Magic Band in another special free concert on the beautiful Somers Point Beach, Wednesday, June 14.

Playing the music of Tito Puente, eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Spyro Gyra, and more, this show will be a sizzling party dance concert of high energy mambo and Latin Jazz fun, yet another special performance for everyone. The show starts at 7 p.m.

July 10: Jersey Gumbo Cook-off and Mardi Gras Festival

Tony Mart Presents is producing produce another Jersey Gumbo Festival and Cook-off Monday, July 10, at The Point Tropical nightclub and Tiki Bar at 988 Bay Ave. The event is free and so is the parking.

The Tropicana’s e xecutive Chef Demetrius Haronis will be honorary chairman of the expert judges. The Point’s owner ed Bonsigniore will be hosting along with the Tony Mart Family, and hundreds of friends. everyone tasting will be able to cast a vote in the popular “people’s choice” voting for their favorite gumbo.

First prize will be $1,000 and second prize is $500. The event will be promoted with a high visibility advertising and publicity campaign, including interviews and features about the competing chefs, their restaurants and topics the chefs would like to share about their restaurants on the Tony Mart Presents radio show, noon-1 p.m. every Saturday and in Shore Local, Southern n ew Jersey’s n ews Magazine, a media partner in the event. First- and second-place winners will get bonus radio and interviews and coverage in Shore Local.

each gumbo cook-off competitor will be entitled to two interviews on the top-rated Tony Mart Presents radio show with a total of approximately 40 minutes free airtime. They will have top line listing on promotional material, advertising and social media generated for the event. There will be repeated public announcements and intensive on site promotion at both The Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point and Tony Mart Presents Mardi Gras AC on the Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza, where flyers and posters will be distributed.

Send an email if you would like to cook Gumbo and compete as part of this event. Tasting begins at 3 p.m. and judging concludes at 6 p.m. email Tonymartpresents@gmail.com.

World-renowned festival entertainment will star James Andrews from HBO’s “Treme” TV series, premier n ew Orleans pianist Joe Krown, from the Kenny Wayne Shepard Band, popular funky brass band The Ocean Avenue Stompers, and our own Jersey Shore Rock and Soul Guitar Hero, Billy Walton with the BMW’s.

Every Wednesday night June 28-Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.: Mardi Gras AC

With the generous funding of the n ew Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the support of Mayor Marty Small and his administration, Tony Mart Presents 11 gifts all summer long when famous musicians appear at 11 world-class concerts at Kennedy Plaza on the AC Boardwalk.

More like the incredible new Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival right on the Atlantic City Boardwalk at the Jersey Shore, Mardi Gras AC will be a Series of 11 Wednesday night free concerts with a diverse lineup of popular, critically acclaimed, award-winning artists.

Mardi Gras AC will feature some of the world’s best reggae, roots rock, n eo soul, funk, Latin jazz fusion, and of course n ew Orleans rhythm and blues legends including Cyril neville, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, George Porter Jr. & The Runnin’ Pardners, Grammy nominated Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and The Honey Island Swamp Band in addition to one of the most popular reggae bands, Third World, the legacy of Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra, Grammy, five-time Grammy nominated Shemekia Copeland.

The series will present some of the greatest classic rock ‘n’ roll stars in the world today including Gary uS Bonds, Martin Barre’s Jethro Tull, The Weight Band (featuring members of The Band and The Levon Helm Band), and the famous Richie LaBamba from the “Conan O’Brian Show,” who played with Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes.

The concerts are free, with cheap parking and a quality beverage garden adjacent, check out the list below and see why Mardi Gras AC is more like the great n ew Orleans Jazz Fest than Mardi Gras itself!

Let the Good Times Roll!!!

Back in Somers Point, where Tony Mart’s rocked the Jersey Coast for 38 years, there is a classic Tony Mart series:

every Thursday night, 6-10 p.m.: Rockin’ The Point

Coming this summer is the new “Tony Mart Rocks The Point” Thursday night party at TH e POI nT, tropical nightclub and tiki bar on the historic Somers Point Bayfront.

every Thursday night from 6 to 10 p.m., our own Jersey Shore rock ‘n soul guitar hero, Billy Walton, will perform with his full band and the scintillating Destinee Monroe performing contemporary and classic hits while Billy and the boys crush it.

This is what Summer at the Shore is all about!

The Point is located at 998 Bay Ave.

(ENTREES INCLUDE SOUP OR SALAD)

CEDAR PLANK SALMON 25

Lemon dijon glazed cedar grilled salmon with grilled broccoli rabe and garlic mashed potatoes

1/2 RACK OF ST. LOUIS RIBS 22 with sweet corn and baked mac and cheese PAN SEARED SCALLOPS 28 with lump crab, tomatoes and spinach in a beurre blanc sauce

TUESDAYS / PRIME RIB 16 0Z 26

WEDNESDAYS / SIRLOIN 12 OZ 30

FRIDAYS / LOBSTER TAIL 10-12 OZ 33

(ENTREES INCLUDE SOUP OR SALAD)

10 OZ RIB EYE 28

S

APPS AND SWEE T

APPS 6

BALSAMIC GLAZED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CAPRESE SALAD, BREADED GREEN BEANS WITH CHIPOTLE SAUCE

SWEETS 6 CHOCOLATE CREME BRULEE, PEACH COBBLER, STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

$33 LOBSTER TAIL FRIDAYS

10-12 oz. Lobster tail with garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus and choice of soup or salad

over caramelized mushroom and onion risotto with grilled asparagus

GRILLED SALMON 23

over tomato orzo topped with fennel salad

HONEY BBQ PORK CHOP 26

over cheese grits with grilled broccoli rabe

The beer was tasty, and the music was outstanding at the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival, held at Bader Field last weekend. On Day One of the Beer Fest, Jesse Ahern led off with a nice acoustic set followed by the band Dentist, a surf punk-tinged brand of indie pop, out of Asbury Park. The Celtic punk band, Dropkick Murphys headlined. A huge crowd gathered, and it wasn't long before

the mosh pit was circling. The band put on a rousing show. Playing such hits as 'Rose Tatoo' and "Shipping off to Boston' as the crowd sang along.

Day Two of the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival began with the Hops Trot 5K between Ocean Casino Resort and Bader Field. Thousands enjoyed sampling the many craft breweries on-site, with the sounds of 311 to close a phenomenal weekend.

Photos by John Loreaux

Photo by Steffen Klenk

Photos by Elizabeth Chiola

Debt consolidation: What you should know

would work best for you. Types of debt that typically get consolidated are credit cards, medical, personal loans, etc.

By Eric Reich

There’s a lot of talk, ads, etc. around debt consolidation. This comes as no surprise since Americans tend to carry all sorts of debt, including some good but mostly bad. The concept is pretty clear, get rid of higher interest rate debt and replace it with lower rate debt, thereby saving you money. While on the surface it sounds great, debt consolidation isn’t for everyone. This week, let’s discuss what debts we should consider consolidating, and those we should not.

The goal of debt consolidation is to possibly lower your monthly payments and/or the total amount of interest you have to repay. Part of the problem for many consumers is that there are several different ways to go about consolidating debt. These include personal loans, home equity loans or lines of credit, balance transfer options for credit cards, etc. Any of these options can potentially be useful in reducing overall interest payments, but the type of debt you have might help decide which type of consolidation

1 Personal loan. This is typically a fixed term, fixed interest rate loan. The rate tends to be higher than most since there isn’t an asset securing the loan like there is for a mortgage.

2. Home equity loan. A loan against the value of your home which tends to carry a lower interest rate than a personal loan. Be careful when consolidating unsecured debt such as credit cards and turning it into secured debt using your home as collateral. While defaulting on credit

card debt will certainly damage your credit, doing so on a mortgage can result in you losing your house in addition to the damage to your credit which is obviously a lot worse.

3. Home equity line of credit. This is similar to a home equity loan but instead of a fixed amount of money borrowed you have access to money up to the limit when you need it. You

only pay for the amount you actually use. The interest rate on a line of credit typically varies with current interest rates up to a limit so be mindful when using a line of credit in a rising interest rate environment.

4. Credit card balance transfer. While this may help in the short term, it is really important to pay off the debt before the end of the promotional period. If not, you might end up with higher interest debt than you started with.

5. Retirement plan loans. This allows you to borrow from yourself (and pay yourself back interest). While this option sounds appealing, if you leave your job while you still have a loan balance and don’t repay it timely, the amount of the outstanding loan becomes taxable to you and may even be subject to a penalty if you are not 59 ½.

In general, regardless of the type of loan you take, you need to be mindful of the fees associated with the new loan. Remember that any fees you pay for the new loan takes away from the benefit of consolidating in the first place.

Get advice before deciding to consolidate debt since some debt can be negotiated directly with the creditor. n ot all debt should be consolidated which is why advice before the process can be helpful.

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.

By Charles P. Eberson Se nior Moments

My wife tells me I have to socialize more. I must develop new friendships. A few years ago, I lost my best friend. Another friend lives in Arizona, and one lives in West Virginia. We maintain contact through the phone or social media, but it is not like we are going out for beers anytime soon. Cultivating new friend -

A Senior’s Observations, Opinions and Rantings

Old friends meet Cobra Kai

ships is problematic under the best of circumstances. However, refreshing old friendships is within the realm of possibilities.

A few years ago, I ran into Joe (not his real name) at a pizza shop in Ocean City. We hadn’t seen each other in over 40 years. We chatted and promised to get together, but we never did. A few months ago, we ran into each other again in ShopRite and again spoke about a reunion. Still, we never managed to pull it off. A few weeks ago, I reached out to Joe and he invited me to visit him at his dojo (karate studio). Joe and I used to train together in the martial arts

Summer Camps for Creative Students!

Quality classes with highly educated faculty and professional artists!

Dance

Princess Ballet, Hip Hop & Broadway - One Week Sessions

Each week long session will end with a performance on the last day.

Theater

from the lower belt levels up until we were training each other for our black belt test. Life being what it is, Joe took one path and I took another. Then, we lost touch. Joe continued his martial arts training. He became a highly regarded practitioner and sensei (teacher). I was honored to be invited and arrived at the dojo.

I arrived with expectations of a relaxed, friendly encounter with Joe and his students. I also had one ibuprofen under my belt. That day, there were only two other students present, with all of us of similar ages. We lined up across from each other, and Joe told us we were going to warm up with 100 jumping jacks. I don’t think I have done 100 jumping jacks in my entire life. Joe told me that if I couldn’t do 100, do whatever I could but keep moving until everyone is finished. I did about 60 for fear that my calves would blow up like grapefruits and I would have to uber home, but I kept moving in a style reminiscent of the Riverdance and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video.

What followed was a series of stretching, self-defense tactics and drills. Then, he said it was weapons time. I was asked which weapon I would like to train with. Since the 9 mm was out of the question, I chose the bo staff, a six-foot-long polished dowel about an inch thick. Sensei Joe instructed me on blocking, disarming and strikes to the head and body. I

felt that should I happen to be walking down the street carrying my bo staff and encounter an attacker with a bo staff, I would be well prepared. In actuality, the drills are more of an exercise in tradition.

Two hours into the session, sensei Joe asked if I wanted to hit the speedball, a volleyball-sized ball suspended from the ceiling with a bungee cord and attached to the floor with a cord. not wanting to insult the dojo, I agreed. Two three-minute rounds went by with me striking this wildly dancing ball. Then, the class was over. Thoroughly gassed, I returned home to hydrate and take my second ibuprofen. All in all, I learned a few things. It is important to socialize. It is also important to keep moving; at any age and into my 70s, even more so. The only other thing left now is to wait for the lactic acid machine that is my body to do its inevitable thing and hope my ibuprofen does what it promises to do.

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

Visual Arts

Movements of an Actor

Navigate through character development, movement and audition practices.

Ages-Middle School: Jun 29-Aug 24 • Thurs 6:00-8:00pm

Intro to Screen Acting

Learn fundamentals including basic scene work and utilizing acting on camera.

Ages-Middle School: Jun 28-Aug 23 • Wed 6:00-8:00pm

Pastels, Watercolor Mixed-Media & One-of a kind art projects!

Explore and create with a variety of materials during half day summer camp sessions. All supplies included.

Kaleidoscope Fantasy: Ages: 6-12yrs. • Jul 10-14 • 9:30am-12 Noon

By The Sea: Ages: 6-12 yrs • Jul 17-21 • 9:30am-12 Noon

Wildlife Adventures: Ages: 8-12yrs • Jul 25-29 • 9:30am-12 Noon

Summer Collage: Ages: 8-12yrs • Aug 1-5 • 9:30 am-12 Noon

Music Private Music & Vocal Lessons

Private lessons are year round. Students ages 5-100yrs will learn and perform at individual pace. Vocals, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Guitar, Trumpet, Drums, Ukelele and Mandolin are taught for all levels and experience.

Registration Open, visit: CygnusArts.org

Or call 609.272.1199 or stop by

minimalist trend

Real Estate Matters

By Elisa Jo Eagan

It seems everyone has something to look forward to in the summer season: the Fourth of July, backyard barbecues, fireworks, and family vacations filled with lots of family fun.

As you embrace and enjoy everything summer has to offer, why wait until fall or winter to give your home a cozy makeover?

The latest design trend, Japandi, combines the comfort of Scandinavian hygge with the minimalism of Japanese design for a stunning look. Discover how you can achieve this style in your home.

Japanese-Scandinavian Design

Japan and Scandinavia are at opposite ends of the vast eurasian

continental area, so you might not expect them to have many commonalities. However, they share a deep love for their homes and regard them as important places. While their design styles differ at the core, their countries’ design aesthetics are the perfect combination of comfort and simplicity.

In America, people often use the word “cozy” to describe design that emphasizes comfort. It’s a compliment in American culture, but for Danes, it’s an integral part of their lifestyle known as “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah).

Hygge and Wabi-Sabi Meet

Hygge became popular in the 1950s, alongside the modernist movement in europe and America, which was resistant to realism and eccentric art. n ot only do Danes champion comfort, they also honor minimalism and togetherness when designing a space. Their design aesthetic is characterized by clean lines, light colors, and minimal furniture.

About 5,000 miles away, Japanese people use the term “wabi-sabi” to reflect their belief that there is beau -

ty in imperfection. The phrase means they embrace what people from a Western culture may deem as quirky and inconvenient in the home.

Japanese design elements include sleek, rich colors and handmade pieces made from natural materials. Japan has gorgeous cherry blossoms and flowing rivers between mountain ranges that are reflected in the country’s home art pieces and decor, which honors the land they live on and brings them closer to nature.

The best of Scandinavian and Japanese influences have merged

harmoniously to create Japandisimplicity and functionality infused with natural richness and uniqueness.

The Principles of Japandi

Hygge and wabi-sabi are great on their own, but the blend of the two is an appealing mix. Some may find Scandinavian design inviting for its coziness and minimalism, while others may find Japanese design serene and beautiful. Japandi attracts those who want to adopt the best of each, which can be achieved by following these principles.

Love and Need Everything

You need to wholly love and need something to use it in your Japandi design. There are no rules about what you can and can’t include - just make sure it serves a purpose to your living space’s functionality.

Champion Quality Over Quantity everything from your furniture to your utensils should be high quality. This principle goes hand-in-hand with loving everything that you own. If you love an item, you should use it until it is no longer usable, instead of routinely changing out or buying new items. What constitutes high quality

“A

is up to you, as it’s relative to your needs.

Respect and Honor the Earth

Giving back to the earth is a big part of Japandi. The style encourages you to consider that you live in what was once unspoiled nature. Japandi honors nature by promoting sustainable, natural materials and incorporating colors and decor that match the natural world.

Embrace Imperfections

n ot every piece in your home will be perfect, nor should it be. every piece represents a part of your life, whether it’s furniture with coffee or paint stains, or handmade bowls or vases with imperfections. To fully adopt Japandi, you must throw away everything you believe about perfection.

Japandi in Your Home

The beauty of Japandi is that you can choose which elements you like from Japan and which you prefer from Scandinavia, and adjust accordingly. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Japandi design. However, these tips can guide you to successfully creating your Japandi-inspired space,

Choose Handmade

Handmade pieces are a Japandi favorite. When you opt for handmade furniture and art, you're choosing to allow unique, well-made, and sometimes perfectly imperfect pieces into your home. This helps support artists and their craftsmanship. Find handmade anything for your home that promotes independent artists and creators.

Keep Your Home Simple

Avoid overcrowding walls with decor and choosing furniture that leaves little space to move around in your living areas. Stick to simple, practical, and intentionally arranged furniture. There should be no need to step around or over anything.

Ask yourself: “Does this spark joy?” If not, you are making your home too complex. Choose items that bring joy and simplicity will follow. A good rule of thumb is to look at a piece, and if you think about it more after you’ve left the store or website, you should revisit and purchase it. If you’ve forgotten about it or are hesitant whether it’s for you, it's best to leave it be.

Pick Basic Shapes

The shapes in your home will set the tone for Japandi, and, while you can’t do much to change your home’s structure, you do have control over the shapes placed inside it. Choose shapes without complicated structures and designs, like solid circles and squares that are uncomplicated but elegant. For instance, when choosing chairs, select those with solid backs instead of chairs with detailed and busy patterns.

Stick to Natural Materials

n ot only do natural materials last longer, they are also the key to honoring the earth in your Japandi home design. Choose furniture made of reclaimed wood, wicker, bamboo, and other sturdy, natural materials. Pick items made with 100 percent cotton, hemp, or linen for upholstery and bedding. One trick is to pick outdoor furniture pieces that can also work inside. Most outdoor furniture is composed of natural materials since it needs to be able to withstand the elements.

Use Warm Neutrals and Muted Colors

A central point in Japandi is creating a minimalist home without it feeling cold. Loud, bold colors and stark whites have the opposite effect, so choose muted tones. The Japandi color palette is where Japanese inspiration shows most: using warm neutrals and muted earth hues. If you desire a pop of color, use soft shades of pink, blue, and green and avoid dark colors as much as possible.

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!"

An English golfing family and their Seaview connection

By William Kelly

When Mel Reid won the 2020 ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Country Club, there weren’t any spectators in the empty COVID-restricted gallery, but when I noticed she was from england, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was somehow related to Seaview’s first golf professional, the infamous Wilfrid Reid.

Then it was listed that she was from Derby, england, a stone’s throw and the same neck of the woods from where Wilfrid Reid was proud to be from – n ottingham, Robin Hood’s turf, which increased the odds they were related. Finding her on Instagram, I asked if she was related to Wilfred Reid, and she replied, “You bet I am!”

The 35-year-old athlete has endured triumph and tragedy, as she played on the Great Britain and Ireland team in the 2006 Curtis Cup,

was low amateur in the 2007 British Women’s Open, and after turning professional, played on the Ladies european Tour, and earned Rookie of the Year in 2008.

After winning a number of tournaments in europe, tragedy came when her mother was killed in a car crash in Germany on her way to a tournament.

Wilfrid Reid was Seaview’s first golf professional.

Mel bounced back, however, and after entering the more competitive Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and moving to Florida, she won her first tournament at Seaview. The first thing she did was call her father at the White Swan Pub in nottingham.

After winning at Seaview, she took her caddy and friends out to dinner, and drank beer out of the glass trophy mug, earning her a reprimand from the LPGA for breaking COVID regulations.

Wilfrid Reid was reprimanded by the uSGA for getting into a fist fight with Ted Ray in the bar at Shawnee C.C. after a major tournament. He

later apologized and said that he merely asked Ray how he could be a socialist and make so much money playing golf.

Wilfrid Reid came over to America with Ted Ray and Harry Vardon, unarguably two of the greatest golfers of all time, both from the British channel island of Jersey, from where n ew Jersey gets its name.

Vardon and Ray came over to America numerous times, timing their trips to play in the uS Open, the American national tournament that British and Scottish professionals won for the first 12 years. Reid’s name could be found at the top of the leaderboard in many of those.

When multimillionaire Clarence Geist couldn’t get a tee time at the Atlantic City Country Club, he built his own course and club – Seaview. Geist made his money in gas when gas lights lit most city streets, and wanted Seaview to be a first class country club, with good food, great service and the best of everything – so he got the best golf pro available, Wildrid Reid.

Reid was a golf pro in an era when they didn’t just play golf, but also made golf balls and clubs and taught. But he didn’t last long at Seaview. While Geist was sitting around eating and drinking with two other golf course owners, who were dissatisfied with their golf pros, they decided to

exchange contracts, and traded them to each other, with Reid moving to the Wilmington C.C., and “Jolly” Jim Fraser from Scotland taking his job at Seaview in what the sports writers called “The Triple Switch.”

Reid went on to Michigan, where he designed a number of courses, as well as the original Olympic course in California, but returned to the Jersey Shore in 1948 when Leo Fraser, son of “Jolly”Jim, made him the Atlantic City Country Club pro, where he was working during the 1948 Women’s Open held there, won by the legendary “Babe” Zaharias.

↘Continued on 84

Shore Local Trivia Test Your Local Knowledge

1. The Absecon Lighthouse can be climbed here:

a) Absecon

b) Atlantic City

c) Brigantine

d) Cape May

2. The Tuckahoe Inn can be found here:

a) Marmora

b) Tuckahoe

c) egg Harbor

d) Beesleys Point

3. This high school’s team name is The Mustangs:

a) Ocean City

b) egg Harbor Township

c) Mainland

d) Atlantic City

4. What casino has a second hotel tower, previously called The Water Club, now MGM Tower?

a) Borgata

b) Golden nugget

c) Bally’s

d) Tropicana

5. What is the name of Ocean City’s famous hermit crab?

a) Crabby Patty

b) Buster The Crab

c) Martin Z. Mollusk

d) Krusty

6. Where is the nearest rolling skating rink?

a) Somers Point

b) Absecon

c) Mays Landing

d) Pomona

7. The state park on the southern tip of Ocean City is:

a) Corson’s Inlet

b) Gardner’s Basin

c) Townsend’s Inlet

d) Forsythe Refuge

8. Tony Marts and Bayshores stood along the bay here:

a) Sea Isle

b) Ocean City

c) Margate

d) Somers Point

9. This eight-time Major League Baseball All-Star is known as the Millville Meteor”?

a) Alex Rodriguez

b) Barry Bonds

c) Mike Trout

d) Mike Schmidt

10. What Monopoly property is not in Atlantic City?

a) Marvin Gardens

b) Arctic Avenue

c) Pacific Avenue

d) Mediterranean Avenue

All Correct - Su R eLY LOCAL. You’ve got sand in your toes and pines needles by your feet.

8 or 9 correct - SOLID LOCAL. You know your way around.

6 or 7 correct - SeMI LOCAL.

n ot born and raised, but not bad.

3 or 5 correct - ne WBI e . Take another exit. You should get around more.

0 to 2 correct - SHOOBI e –Welcome to South Jersey. The beach is that way.

1.

B: Atlantic City

2.

D: Beesleys Point

3.

C: Mainland

4.

A: Borgata

5.

C: Martin Z. Mollusk

6.

C: Mays Landing

7.

A: Corson's Inlet

8. D: Somers Point

9.

C: Mike Trout

10.

A: Marvin Gardens

609-645-0500

THEME: FINISH THE LYRICS

ACROSS

1. Fake deal

5. Dashboard acronym

8. Oxen connector

12. Guesstimate phrase (2 words)

13. Give a darn

14. exhibitionist

15. It's OTAn in French

16. Carbon monoxide lacks this

17. Geometry class prop

18. *Lou Reed: "She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the ____ ____"

20. european "curtain"

21. Mustangs, e.g.

22. Campaign pro

23. Cause of wheezing

26. Men's Colonial headgear

30. Fib

31. *Bon Jovi: "Take my hand, we'll make it I swear. Woah, livin' on a ____"

34. The only thing to fear?

35. Small and round, eyes description

37. Future fish

38. Alabama civil rights site

39. Tangelo

40. Shape clay, e.g.

42. James Corden's network

43. Awaited deliverer

45. Same as lathees

47. 0 meridian acronym

48. World-weary

50. Prefix with legal

52. *Aerosmith: "Sing with me, sing for the year. Sing for the ____"

55. Siberian prison

56. Pakistani language

57. *Dionne Warwick: "I think I'm going out of my ____"

59. Rapidly

60. Cheese app

61. "Cogito, ____ sum"

62. Diamond's corner

63. european economic Community

64. Whiskey grain, pl.

DOWN

1. *Kansas: "Carry on, my wayward ____"

2. "Stick in one's ____"

3. Italian wine region

4. Dough

5. *The Buggles: "Video killed the ____"

6. Cattle controls

7. Bébé's mother

8. *elton John: "And it seems to me you lived ____ ____"

9. Capital of norway

10. Hiking sandals brand

11. Mess up

13. Show's other star

14. Rap sheet listing

19. negative house description

22. p in #5 Across

23. Michael Jackson's "Thriller", e.g.

24. Military blockade

25. Bluish greens

26. Banana leftover

27. ____'s, grape jelly brand

28. Many iambs

29. *Guns n' Roses: "Take me down to the paradise city where the ____"

32. Missouri capital tourist attraction

33. *ABBA: "Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with ____"

36. *Queen: "You got mud on your face, you big ____"

38. Hiding place

40. Aptitude test acronym

41. Black Death

44. Picture

46. Restraint

48. Ballet rail 49. Playful

50. Immature butterfly 51. unfortunately, exclamation

52. Jiffy's grease

53. Spooky

54. uncontrollable anger

55. Loquacious person's gift

58. not don'ts

See Solution on Page 84

↘

After Mel Reid won at Seaview in 2020, Mel tied for first place after the first round at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where the original course was designed by – Wilfrid Reid.

Mel also played a number of times in the Solheim Cup, team competition between uS and europe players. She led the european team to victory in 2021, along with a young Irish pro named Leona Maguire, and is in line to be a captain of the european team in the future.

And it was Wildrid Reid who not only attended the inaugural meeting of the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to get that underway, but helped instigate the uS- u K rivalry along with Vardon, Ray, John McDermott and Walter Hagen, that led to the formation of the Walker, Ryder, Curtis and Solheim Cups.

Wilfrid Reid is now buried in a grave in Florida, not far from where Mel Reid lives when she isn’t on the LPGA tour.

When I was researching the history of the Atlantic City Country Club for “The Birth of the Birdie,” I came across a letter Wilfrid Reid wrote to Leo Fraser in the Leo Fraser library and because it says a lot about golf and life, I retyped it.

My Life in Golf – By Wilfrid Reid

It’s hard to believe it now, but I almost became a minister instead of a professional golfer. At least my family had that in mind for me until I was about 14. My family all played golf – my grandfather, my father, my brother – all of them – so it was only natural for me to start. I was about five years old when I began and by the time I was 14 I was a pretty good player.

I was born in Sherwood Forest –an outlaw, you know – and golf was

popular in Nottingham like every place else. The Notts, the gentlemen of Nottingham, allowed us to play on the golf course. We were artisans, you know, the working men. Anyway, in 1898 Harry Vardon played an exhibition match there and after seeing him I don’t think I ever considered any other career besides golf.

Instead of studying for the ministry I went to Edinburgh as an apprentice to a golf professional. Well, this was a few years before the rubber-core ball came out and people were still using the guttie. I learned to make golf balls using molds, two halves and put them together. I used to make several dozen balls a day.

Harry Vardon was very quiet on the course. The thing I remember most is that there was a great crowd of people gathered there, and when I stepped up on the first tee I was so scared I couldn’t talk. Then Vardon came up and said, “What’s the matter, lad?” I pointed to all the people and he said, “Don’t worry about them, they’re only trees.” I never forgot how kind he was.

It was during these years that we had what were called international

↘Continued on 86

Mel with the ShopRite trophy she drank beer out of

Champions past and present highlight ShopRite LPGA Classic field

The tournament field for the 2023 ShopRite LPGA Classic

Presented by Acer was finalized on Monday following an 18-hole qualifier at the Bay Course at Seaview, A Dolce Hotel, in Galloway.

Mariah Stackhouse (4-under 67) and Gurleen Kaur (2-under 69) captured the final two spots to gain entry into the championship, taking place Friday-Sunday, June 9-11.

e pson Tour professional Sierra Brooks has accepted the final sponsor exemption into the championship. She will join a 144-player elite international field that features several of the world’s top-ranked players, major champions, multiple past champions and players who are making their LPGA Tour debuts.

The tournament field will feature 15 major champions, three former World n o. 1 players and seven past champions. Past champions include defending champion Brooke Henderson (2022), Mel Reid (2020), Annie Park (2018), In Kyung Kim (2017) two-time winners Anna nordqvist (2015, 2016) and Stacy Lewis (2012, 2014), and Angela Stanford (2003).

Previously announced sponsor exemptions competing in the championship include Ladies european winner and 17-year-old Chiara noja and university of Florida rising senior Maisie Filler.

LPGA Tour winner and Philadelphia Cricket Club teaching professional Meaghan Francella advanced into the field via her LPGA priority status, thus opening up one additional sponsor exemption.

Atlantic City’s largest sporting event, the ShopRite LPGA Classic is one of the LPGA Tour’s longest running events. For three decades, golf fans from across the country have converged on the Jersey Shore to watch the top female golfers in the world compete on the famed waterfront course, competing over three rounds for a share of the $1.75 million purse on Seaview’s famous Bay Course.

The tournament annually creates more than $19 million in economic activity in the region. Since 1992, more than $40 million has been donated by the tournament to area charities ,

For tickets and information see www.ShopRiteLPGAClassic.com

matches, between teams from England and Scotland. I was on the English team seven years – from 1906 through 1913 and my record was 10 victories, one loss and one match halved. There were some great matches, as you might imagine, since England has players like Vardon, Taylor and Ray, while Braid, Herd and Willie Park were on the other side.

It’s funny how some things remain in your mind, while more important ones are sometimes forgotten. I recall looking for Ray at the 1913 Open and found him in the bar of the hotel with Alex Smith. They were having a big argument about socialism. Then I had to open my big mouth. I said, “Ted, how the hell can you argue in favor of socialism when you make as much money as you do?”

Well, Ted really got angry at that, really upset, and he punched me right in the face and knocked me clear over the table. My face was swollen clear out to the ear, and the next day I had a devil of a headache. Vardon was very upset and said he was going to withdraw, but I talked him out of it.

While I was here, I talked to a lot of fellows I had known in Britain and saw how well they were doing and how much golf was growing here, and I began to wonder if it might not be a good thing for me to make the move. As it turned out, I went back home and stayed there a couple of years, then came here permanently in 1915 and took the job at Seaview in Atlantic City.

I don’t know what I would have done in other circumstances, but the war was on and golf in Britain was almost at a standstill.

I wasn’t too happy there and was soon looking for another club. Then Gil Nichols came to me and said he was accepting an offer from Great Neck, on Long Island, and he told me to come down to his present club at Wilmington and play a match with

him. He wanted to introduce me to the people at the club because he thought he might be able to get the job. It was a sort of a game of musical chairs because I took Gil’s place at Wilmington, he took Jimmy Fraser’s place at Great Neck, and Jimmy took my place at Seaview.

I stayed at Wilmington seven years and during that time I became an American citizen. I had studied the material from top to bottom so I answered all of them correctly, and when the judge congratulated me he admitted he hadn’t known all the answers himself.

Well, I’ve been here and there since then. I spent several years in Detroit and I used to spend every winter in St. Augustine. I was around when the PGA was founded in 1916, and after I went to Detroit I got Leo Fraser and Warren Orlick into the PGA. Both of them later became president of the association, you know?

I played quite a lot of tournament golf the first few years I was over here and in fact, I’ve never completely stopped, because I played in the PGA Seniors.

It’s been a good life and I wouldn’t have had it any other way, although once in a while I wonder what my life would have been like if I had gone ahead and studied for the ministry.

William Kelly can be contacted at Billkelly3@gmail.com.

Mel Reid won the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Country Club in 2020.