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3

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Keeping your cool

Letter from the editor

W

hen I was young, my brothers and I would often get into heated arguments in the back seat of our family station wagon. It didn’t take much — maybe a stray elbow in “my space” or a debate over who was sitting on whose side. Cramped and restless, we'd go back and forth until my dad, in a voice that meant business, would say sharply, “Cool it!” That phrase has stuck with me for years.

These days, that same advice feels just as relevant — maybe more so. If you're anything like me, adding extreme heat to an already stressful situation — traffic, parking hassles or navigating through crowds — only intensifies the aggravation. It doesn’t take much to feel like you’re at a boiling point.

There’s a term called “hangry,” describing irritability when you’re hungry. I think we need another word to describe that same edgy feeling when we’re overheated — something like “heat-noyed,” maybe? Because the truth is, hot temperatures don’t just make us uncomfortable. They can also push us emotionally, making us less patient, more reactive and downright cranky.

Of course, the heat also brings a

mass exodus to the shore. Crowds swell, traffic backs up and parking becomes a game of chance. People are eager to cool off, but getting there isn’t always a breeze. It can feel like a test of endurance just to reach the sand.

That’s why now, more than ever, we need to pack our patience.

Whether you're behind the wheel waiting at a green light while large groups of people loaded with chairs and coolers cross the street (ever so slowly), or trying to find a patch of sand where someone hasn’t already staked their claim, remind yourself.

The beach is meant to be shared.

Each summer, there are tragic incidents involving pedestrians, often because of impatience or inattention. Pedestrian safety is everyone’s responsibility. Even when it feels like the crowds are slowing you down or making you late, remember: People always have the right of way. A moment of frustration isn't worth risking someone's life.

And while we’re at it, let’s try not to sweat the small stuff. If someone sets up a little too close to your spot on the beach, try not to take it personally. In the grand scheme of life, it’s a minor inconvenience. You're still lucky enough to have your toes in the sand and the ocean in front of you.

So this summer, let’s all take a collective deep breath — hot air and all. Be safe, be kind and be patient.

And when things start to feel overwhelming, just remember the words of my dad: “Cool it.”

Peace & Love, Cindy

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4

June 26, 2025

Heat waves and safety top of mind at the Jersey Shore

By Meteorologist Joe Martucci

W

ell, that changed fast.

June gloom went to summer sizzle. High temperatures were in the 60s as recently as June 16 inland, and June 17 at the shore. Less than a week later, inland areas sweltered in the heat and humidity. Inland highs were in the 90s, with the sultry weather peaking earlier this week.

In other words, the pattern shift from spring to summer is now done, like we talked about in last week’s column about the cool and wet weekends. While the official temperatures are not in at the time of this writing, it’s likely you have lived through your first heat wave of 2025 inland.

With the heat increasing, both in the short term and the long term, knowledge is key to staying prepared.

What is a heat wave?

A heat wave in New Jersey is defined as three or more days of high temperatures at or above 90 degrees.

Turns out, there is no official definition of a heat wave. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines it as “a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days.”

The American Meteorological Society says “to be a heat wave, such a period should last at least one day, but…lasts from several days to several weeks.”

The idea of using 90 degrees stems from A.T. Burrows. In 1901, he said a heat wave was when there were three or more days of heat that were above 90 degrees.

While we use that definition in New Jersey now, that doesn’t make sense for the Deep South. Jackson, Miss. has an average high temperature in the 90s from June 11 to Sept.

8. While it’s hot, that’s part of their climate.

Moreover, that doesn’t work in Seattle, where they average 2.5 days in the 90s each year, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Heck, it doesn’t even really work in the beach towns here in New Jersey.

The Sen. Frank S. Farley State Marina in Atlantic City averages 4.4 days

6

a year with a temperature of at least 90 degrees. Using the New Jersey heat wave definition, the last one for the city was July 2011.

You can figure the same for all of the barrier island beach towns at the Jersey Shore (note that most Monmouth County beaches are not barrier islands and see highs of at least 90 degrees more often, but still not as often as inland towns).

In 2022, I asked those in the local weather news space to comment about what a heat wave is for their viewing area. Central California goes by three days of 100 or more heat. In Amarillo, Texas, it’s three days of 105 heat. In Austin, it’s a week at least in the 100s.

Has New Jersey seen more heat waves over time? To keep it simple, we’ll just use the three days over 90-degree threshold for both the beach towns and inland areas.

Plus, to keep the answer simple, yes there has been an increase in the number of heat waves over time. Here are the number of heat waves, per decade at Atlantic City International Airport per the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. ● 1940s: 11 ● 1950s: 13 ● 1960s: 17 ● 1970s: 14 ● 1980s: 24 ● 1990s: 22 ● 2000s: 28 ● 2010s: 36 ● 2020-2024: 20 (on pace for 40) Most of that increase has been during July and August, our two hottest months of the year. Nowadays, you can expect about four heat waves a year.

Go to the coast and there’s also an increasing trend in Atlantic City.

However, since there are so few of them, with the last being in 2011, it’s not as strong of an increase as inland areas. Plus, there’s no real change in what month they’re happening more often.

Remember, too, that the threshold is 90 degrees. A week with 90s, except one for one day where it’s 89, would count as two heat waves instead of one. Still, the data shows an overall increase in the number of 90-degree days throughout the region. That’s especially true for the airport, which is always warmer than the coast in the summer.

What’s causing the increase in heat waves?

Human influence on Earth is main-

ly responsible for this increase in two different ways.

First, there’s been an increase in greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s.

The more carbon dioxide, methane, etc. that is in the atmosphere, the greater the ability for the sun’s heating rays to hit the ground, reflect back into the sky, only to bounce back down again off the emissions.

Secondly, there is an increase in roads, roofs and parking lots. These dark surfaces absorb more heat than the green gas, trees or the white sand. So, when the sun is down at night, that stored-up heat releases itself into the atmosphere, keeping our air warm (weather stations take readings about 6 feet high).

Summer heat safety tips

Staying healthy during heat waves requires some changes in lifestyle.

Staying in the air conditioning, if you have it, is your best defense against the scorching heat. During the summer, the state of New Jersey works with towns and counties to open cooling shelters by you.

In Atlantic County, the county libraries in Absecon, Egg Harbor Township, Mays Landing, Pleasantville and Somers Point are open for you. If you’re in Cape May County, the emergency management website provides a list of cooling shelters when needed.

Deciding to go to the beach or pool to cool off is a great idea. However, even going there can be hazardous on the hottest days. The salt water at the beach can dry you out, and you’re still feeling the humidity next to the

ocean. Drink plenty of water.

If you’re working outside, you should have 8 ounces (a cup) of cool water every 20 minutes. Take frequent breaks, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest. If you can do that in the shade, it’s even better.

Finally, know the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Heat exhaustion brings thirstiness, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness.

You can combat this by moving to a cooler area, loosening clothing and sipping water. I had heat exhaustion in Italy in 2019. If you know Europe, you know air conditioning is optional, despite Italy being as hot as it is here.

Going into a museum, I got nausea and sweated heavily. We took a car back to our hotel room where we put the air conditioning on as low as possible. I was done for the rest of the day, but much better by nightfall.

Heat stroke, meanwhile, is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1, get into a cooler spot and get ice on you as soon as you can.

Heat is the biggest killer in the United States, unfortunately. It has been every year since 2016, according to NOAA. However, just a little extra attention to what you are doing outside during heat waves goes a long way.

Joe Martucci, a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and Digital Meteorologist, is the President and Director of Meteorology for Cup A Joe Weather and Drone.

You can connect with him at cupajoe.live.

June 26, 2025

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Blueberry season peaks as South Jersey celebrates its signature crop

By James FitzPatrick

B

lueberries as we know them were born in New Jersey.

Those plump, juicy, sweet summer essentials owe their existence to the Pine Barrens; the same place where we find cranberry bogs and the legend of the Jersey Devil.

Even without the local connection, blueberries are worth celebrating.

Not only can they be as sweet as candy when at perfect ripeness, they are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, which supports heart health, brain function, and the immune system – all making them worthy of the National Blueberry Day observation coming up July 8.

The success of the blueberry here isn’t only the work of Mother Nature.

Yes they love the combination of sandy, acidic, low pH soil found in the Pine Barrens; but the highbush blueberry plant was willed into existence on its journey to becoming the state fruit, and one of New Jersey’s foremost agricultural success stories.

As far back as 1887, Elizabeth White, a botanist born in Pemberton, Burlington County, was searching for a secondary crop to grow on her father’s cranberry farm. One idea was blueberries, which grew in the wild but were too sour and unreliable to be consistently reproduced in a commercially viable way.

After reading about his work, White collaborated with USDA botanist Frederick Coville in 1911, who at the time was also trying to come up with a viable blueberry.

White invited Coville to her father’s Whitesbog, Burlington County, farm and they went to work. With the help of local residents, they hunted down as many wild berry bushes as they could, and started cross-breeding new varieties.

“Elizabeth would pay those who brought her blueberry bushes, compensating for the time taken to collect them in addition to the bush itself,” according to the New Jersey Agricultural Society. “All new varieties that were created were named after who delivered the bush.”

By 1916 they were ready to put a product on the market. As time went on they released numerous varieties and their popularity grew among farmers and consumers. They even created an incentive program that rewarded farmers for reporting data on their crops.

Not only was the cultivated blueberry first perfected in the Garden State, today we’re the seventh highest ranking state in the nation for blueberry production at just over 50.2 million pounds per year ($92.1 million worth) – quite an achievement for the fifth smallest state in the union.

New Jersey blueberries are sold down in Texas and all the way up in Canada, throughout the Midwest and the entire East Coast, according to Denny Doyle, a blueberry farmer and chairman of the New Jersey Blueberry Advisory Council, which supports and promotes the industry in the state.

With the season running mid-June through August, the 2025 crop is well underway. It means shelves will be well-stocked for the 39th Annual Red White and Blueberry Festival in Hammonton Sunday, June 29.

The self-proclaimed Blueberry Capital of the World will celebrate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hammonton High School with live music, vendors, a car show, rides for the kids and of course, blueberries prepared in every

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way. Follow the signs for free remote parking.

Doyle noted that Hammonton grew more peaches until the mid1960s when farmers realized the berry was a more economical choice.

On National Blueberry Day, Tuesday, July 8, there will be another blueberry event, this one designed exclusively for families with children on the autism spectrum.

Johnny Boy Blues blueberry farm in Egg Harbor City will host National Blueberry Day with Heart of Surfing.

Celebrate from 6 to 8 p.m. at 347 S. Vienna Ave., Egg Harbor City, for an evening of blueberry picking, pizza, live music, family activities, local vendors, and a special flyover by the New Jersey State Police.

“We’re passionate about growing blueberries and supporting the autism community,” said Amy Hunter who owns the farm with her husband, Chris. The farm is named for her son who has autism. “I hope to keep this farm in our family and bless others through it,” Hunter said, “For the past four years, we have had an event at our farm on July 8,” said Hunter, who inherited the 80-acre farm from her parents. “It’s always July 8 because that’s National Blueberry Day, and it’s my mom’s birthday.” RSVP now at heartofsurfing.org. click on “Events.”

Historic Whitesbog Farm and celebration. So we're connected Village in Browns Mills holds a Blueright at the hip with that holiday.” berry Summer Fest 4-9 p.m. each That’s a good thing because Friday, June 13-July 25; excluding blueberries have to move.

“We're not dealing with cranJuly 4 and including Saturday, July 5, 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Learn more at berries where you have maybe whitesbog.org. a week or two, and sometimes In New Jersey, blueberries are even three weeks to move your grown on approximately 250 of the volume. Blueberries, we want to state’s 9,100 farms, spanning over see done within four or five days.

10,800 acres, with most growing in “But (if a farmer) has a lot Atlantic County, particularly around of blue fruit out there in a field Hammonton and Burlington County, Chris and Amy Hunter, owners of Johnny Boy Blues that is not a you-pick farm, that's according to the USDA. Doyle said blueberry farm in Egg Harbor City when he’s got the decision, okay, most of the Atlantic County farms let's freeze, for example, 20% of are larger than the ones in Burlington. crop should be picked for the fresh what we're bringing in, and we'll pack As far as the 2025 season is conor frozen market. It also helps that fresh 80%. Sometimes it's 50-50.” cerned we are well into it and things farmers are supportive of eachother.

Doyle said doing it right it’s like an are looking good.

“In New Jersey we have a very art form.

“New Jersey blueberries are here “It depends on the demand or the close-knit group. Our communicamargins.” and they are in the supermarkets tions between growers and growing now,” said Doyle. “We are picking at organizations are just excellent, probWhen you get down to it, bluea high level. We are peaking at this ably some of the best in the United berries may be small, but they are a point in time in terms of volume, States as far as unity, talking about big deal and Atlantic County should things are looking very good.” our volume levels where the general feel proud and privileged to be at the It all comes together through pricing is,” said Doyle, who noted that center of it all. an intricate combination of collabthey’re also pretty competitive. oration, science, and a finely tuned As important as all that is, how the Copy editor and Contributing marketplace that assures that output general demand is, also called “the Writer James FitzPatrick has finds its way to customers efficiently. take,” Is crucial. been a community journalist in When it comes to selling blue“And right now, the take, the Atlantic and Cape May counties berries, it’s all about supply and demand, is good. It's real good. We for more than 30 years, includdemand and what the major buyers have the Fourth of July coming up. ing 20 years as editor of The like Walmart, Costco, and SuperFresh And that's obviously a big holiday Current Newspapers. He lives are willing to pay. Farmers need to for us. And New Jersey is positioned in Hammonton. have a feel for just how much of their to really handle that Fourth of July

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June 26, 2025

9

Ocean City 2050 unveils ambitious ‘better idea’ proposal for Wonderland Pier redevelopment

By Julia Train

S

ince the closure of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in October 2024, the landmark’s future is uncertain. However, on Saturday, June 21, Ocean City 2050, a local group of citizens working to preserve Ocean City’s character, promote responsible growth and advocate for transparency in local government, has stepped forward with an alternative vision that could reshape the Boardwalk’s next era.

Their proposal, titled “A Better Idea,” was unveiled at a public meeting at the Ocean City Free Public Library.

Designed as a mixed-use concept, “A Better Idea” combines traditional amusements with new public space,

10

boutique lodging, retail, dining and digital entertainment. The proposal’s goal is to modernize Wonderland’s legacy while preserving Ocean City’s “family-first” brand.

Rather than challenging the site’s current owner, developer Eustace Mita, the plan was created to offer a constructive alternative and open new paths for consensus.

“The purpose of us presenting the alternative, right, was to provide people with a realistic option and it's not for us to say that we want to do this. This is a discussion that will take place between the city and the developer,” said Bill Merritt, a member of Ocean City 2050. “What we proposed was something that's not just a pipe dream. It actually can be done. We have investors; we have designs.”

The plan includes four key elements: a small amusement park, a VR and digital entertainment center, public gathering spaces — including

a band shell and playground — and a low-rise lodging component set at the rear of the 3-acre property.

The amusement area would feature eight to 10 family-friendly rides, splash pads and social media-friendly design elements like an interactive “selfie wall.” The adjacent VR entertainment center would incorporate cutting-edge immersive technology — such as motion-simulator pods and interactive digital environments — bringing a fresh attraction to the Boardwalk’s offerings.

Ocean City 2050 has spent over six months developing the plan, including architectural designs, financial modeling and stakeholder outreach.

Merritt confirmed that the concept is “financeable,” with investor interest already lined up. While specific cost estimates are still being refined, he stated the proposal is “substantially lower” than Mita’s previously rumored $150 million vision.

A recurring theme during Saturday’s meeting and subsequent interviews was the importance of a public process. Merritt emphasized that Ocean City 2050’s intention is to contribute to a transparent and inclusive conversation — one that supports the City Council, the public and even the current developer by showing what else is possible.

The group also addressed skepticism that emerged following the proposal’s release.

“We understand concerns,” said Merritt. “Some people think we’re telling a property owner what to do.

But we’re not. We’re just putting forward one thoughtful option. The

process benefits from having options on the table.”

Feedback at the meeting was largely positive, with even some initial skeptics changing their stance after seeing the depth of research and planning behind the proposal.

The lodging aspect — traditionally a controversial point in Ocean City — has been designed with sensitivity, placed at the back of the property and limited in height.

Their next steps include releasing a video presentation, architectural deck, and a frequently asked questions guide on social media and Ocean City 2050’s website. The group also plans to make one of its key investors public in the coming weeks.

“The Boardwalk is actually pretty small. [It’s] six blocks. This is one sixth of the Boardwalk, so this is not a small decision. This is a huge decision, and it really needs to be thoughtful,” said Merritt. “And that's really what our driving motivation was, to bring information in.”

More information and proposal materials will be available soon at oceancity2050.org and on their Facebook page.

Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain

June 26, 2025

ke f a o o T ery y or re t eliv t en nitu e D v In Fur iat e g ly ed u H Po mm nd for I a ak e or e T m Ho

RE O SH ARS E TH 0 YE G IN ER 2 V R SE R OV FO

Staying cool, safe and healthy in the heat

By Robin Stoloff

S

ummer brings sunshine, beach days and backyard barbecues, but it also brings intense heat. We recently ex-

perienced our first major heat wave of the season, and it likely won’t be the last. Extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable — it can be dangerous and even deadly. Knowing how to protect yourself and others during the hottest months is essential for staying safe, healthy and ready to fully enjoy everything summer has to offer.

When your body gets too hot and cannot cool itself properly, you risk developing a heat-related illness.

This happens more often than people realize. Heat is the leading cause of

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weather-related fatalities in the United States.

According to the CDC, between about 1,000 and 2,300 people die from extreme heat each year in the U.S., and thousands more become ill.

While heat can affect anyone, certain groups are especially vulnerable.

Older adults may not adjust as well to sudden temperature changes and often have chronic health conditions or take medications that affect how their bodies respond to heat. Young children are less able to regulate their body temperature and rely on adults to keep them safe.

People with heart disease, diabetes, obesity or mental illness are also more susceptible to heat-related problems.

Those who work outdoors or engage in strenuous physical activity — such as landscapers, construction workers and athletes — should also take extra precautions, especially during midday when the sun is strongest.

There are several types of heat-related illnesses, ranging from mild to life-threatening: • Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms, often in the legs or abdomen, that can occur after intense physical activity. They are a sign that your body is losing fluids and electrolytes through sweat.

• Heat exhaustion is more serious and includes symptoms such as heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and cold, clammy skin. If not addressed quickly, it can progress to heat stroke.

• Heat stroke is a medical emergency. It happens when the body’s temperature rises rapidly — above 103°F — and it can no longer regulate its heat. Symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, rapid pulse and hot, dry skin. Call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is experiencing heat stroke.

Staying cool and comfortable

Here are simple but effective ways to stay safe and beat the heat: 1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and high-sugar drinks, which can dehydrate you. If you're sweating a lot, electrolyte-rich beverages like sports drinks can help replenish lost minerals.

2. Dress for the weather. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing to help your body stay cool. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses offer protection from the sun’s rays, and breathable fabrics allow for better air circulation.

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3. Limit outdoor activity. Try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you must be outside, take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning, and pace yourself.

4. Use fans and air conditioning.

If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, spend a few hours at a library, shopping mall, grocery store, movie theater or cooling center. Even short periods in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you return to the heat.

5. Take cool showers or baths.

Water can be an excellent way to lower your body temperature. A quick rinse with cool (not cold) water can offer immediate relief. If you have access to a pool, lake or the ocean, cool off by staying in the water or going in frequently.

6. Watch out for others. Check in on older neighbors, family members and anyone who may not have access to air conditioning. Never leave children or pets in parked cars, even with the windows cracked. Temperatures can rise to deadly levels within minutes.

Being able to spot early symptoms of heat-related illness can prevent a mild problem from becoming a serious one. If you or someone you know begins to feel dizzy, weak or confused, or stops sweating alto-

gether, it’s time to act. Move to a cooler place, sip water and rest. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve within 30 minutes, seek medical attention immediately.

Believe it or not, what we eat can help us manage heat, too. High-water-content foods like watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries and oranges can help keep us hydrated. We should avoid heavy meals and hot, spicy foods during the peak heat of the day, as they can raise body temperature. Instead, opt for lighter fare such as salads, yogurt and smoothies.

When we sweat, we lose more than just water — we also lose electrolytes. These vital minerals, including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, help balance fluid levels, support muscle function and keep our nerves working properly. If you're sweating heavily — whether from outdoor work, strenuous exercise or simply enduring a heat wave — it's important to replace both fluids and electrolytes.

Electrolyte drinks like sports beverages can be helpful in this situation.

They’re designed to rehydrate the body and replenish the electrolytes lost through sweat. These drinks typically contain a combination of min-

erals and carbohydrates, which can also provide a quick energy boost.

However, not all electrolyte drinks are created equally. Some have high levels of added sugar, artificial colors or caffeine, which aren’t ideal for regular consumption. Choosing lower-sugar options or using electrolyte powders or tablets that you can mix into your own water may be a healthier and more customizable alternative.

Pickle juice to manage the heat is another option that has gained popularity, especially among athletes. While it may sound unusual, many people use it to relieve muscle cramps quickly. The reason lies in its high sodium content and vinegar, which may trigger a reflex that stops cramping. Some small studies and anecdotal reports support this effect.

However, due to its high salt content, pickle juice should be used in moderation and isn’t a substitute for drinking water or balanced electrolyte solutions.

For most people, plain water is sufficient for staying hydrated during regular daily activities.

However, if you're losing a lot of fluid through sweat, adding an electrolyte drink — or even a small amount of pickle juice — can help your body recover and maintain proper hydration levels. The key is to stay ahead of dehydration and listen to your body.

If you start feeling thirsty, you’re already on your way to becoming dehydrated.

While summer heat can be intense, it doesn’t have to be harmful.

By planning ahead, staying hydrated, dressing smart and keeping an eye out for warning signs, you can enjoy the warm weather without putting your health at risk.

Robin is a former television reporter for NBC News 40. She currently hosts a podcast and radio program called Living Well with Robin Stoloff. It airs Sundays at 10 AM on Lite 96.9. You can email Robin at livingwellwithrobin@gmail.com

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Absecon Concerts in the Park

Free Outdoor Concerts

lin, under the direction of Waynard Scheller, producer and performer with Bob Weir and the Jerry Garcia Family Foundation. Visit www.somerspointbeachconcerts.com for the full summer lineup.

Ventnor City Summer Beach Jam

▶Sundays, 7 p.m.

Heritage Park Bring your chairs or blankets and enjoy the sound of classic blues by the Matrix Band. The music begins at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Brigantine Summer Concert Series

▶Saturdays, 6:30 p.m.

Newport Avenue Beach The first Summer Beach Jam of the season kicks off this weekend, with music by The Voice of Ventnor Ricky Stevens, and pop and rock by The Usual Suspects. The music begins at 6:30 p.m. Food and crafters

▶Wednesday, July 2, 7 p.m.

Brigantine Community Center 265 42nd St. Brigantine Community Education and Recreation will host a free outdoor concert on the Community Center lawn this Wednesday.

Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the sounds of the Pit- Listen to good tunes at the Ventnor City Summer man Hobo Band. In the event of Beach Jam. Photo credit: Ventnor City, New rain, all concerts will be held the Jersey Facebook following Thursday. For more information, call the recreation office facebook.com/EHTRecreation in the at 609-264-7350. event of inclement weather.

EHT Rhythm in the Park Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk

▶Friday, June 27, 7 – 9 p.m.

Robert J. Lincoln Amphitheater in Tony Canale Park Bring your blankets and chairs and join EHT Parks & Recreation for their first outdoor concert of the season, featuring the Duck & Cover band. Visit www.ehtrec.com or www.

▶Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Kennedy Plaza 2300 Boardwalk, Atlantic City Head to Kennedy Plaza this Wednesday to hear Sam Morrow’s Southern Rock Blues Band. The festivities kick off with Willpower, the eleven-pieces tribute to Earth,

Somers Point Legacy Beach Concerts are every Friday at 7 p.m.

Wind & Fire. For more information, visit tonymart.com.

Somers Point Legacy Beach Concerts

▶Fridays, 7 p.m.

William Morrow Beach 800 Bay Ave. This week, Dead Zep takes the stage. Hear the musical melodies of the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppe-

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will be ready to serve you at 5:30 p.m.

Ventnor City Sunset at Ski Beach

▶Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.

Dorset & Burk Ave. The Ski Beach concert continues this week with the Derek Crider Band, playing the best in rock and country. The music begins at 6:30 p.m. Food and crafters will be ready to serve you at 5:30 p.m.

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Every Sunday 9am - 1pm Memorial Day thru Labor Day 1 Swift Drive, EHT Atlantic County Library Ground Register to be a vendor at www.littlepawscrafts.com

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Multi-day Events

Events and Happenings

Funtastic Tuesdays

▶Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Downtown Asbury Avenue, Ocean City Enjoy free entertainment while strolling Asbury Avenue between Sixth and 11th streets. For more information, visit www.oceancityvacation.com.

Mummers Nights

▶Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 – 9 p.m.

Ocean City Boardwalk The Mummers will strut the boardwalk twice a week, beginning at Sixth and 14th streets and meeting at 10th Street. For details, visit www. oceancityvacation.com.

Market Days

▶Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Downtown Asbury Avenue, Ocean City Enjoy free entertainment while strolling Asbury Avenue between Sixth and 11th streets. For more, visit www.oceancityvacation.com.

Thursday, June 26 World’s Largest Swimming Lesson

▶10 – 11 a.m.

OC Waterpark, 728 Boardwalk, Ocean City

Named America’s #1 Best Roadside Attraction

by USA Today!

Now Open Daily.

Monday thru Saturday 10am to 8pm Sundays 10am to 5pm

This global event promotes water safety and the importance of teaching children how to swim. Local safety teams will assist with lessons.

Pre-registration is required at www. ocwaterpark.com.

Throwback Thursday with JFS

▶10:30 a.m. – noon

Congregation Beth Israel, 2501 Shore Road, Northfield Join BJE Executive Director Josh Cutler for an educational brunch focused on the history of Atlantic City and Downbeach. RSVP by June 23 to Tina Serota at tserota@jfsatlantic.org or call 609-287-8872.

Friday, June 27

Bubble Guppies Star to Play Boardwalk Hall Organ

▶10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City Young organist Brody Bett, the voice of Gil in Bubble Guppies, will perform a recital at noon on the world’s largest pipe organ. A curator’s tour begins at 10 a.m. Tickets for the tour available at www.boardwalkorgans.org. The recital is free.

Saturday, June 28 Margate Beachstock

▶8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

1 Lucy Plaza (9200 Atlantic Ave.) Margate, NJ 08402 (609)823-6473 www.LucyTheElephant.org

Lucy’s Gift Shop is temporarily located across the street at the corner of Washington & Atlantic Avenues.

TAKE $1 OFF ADMISSION OR RECEIVE 10% OFF YOUR GIFT SHOP PURCHASE

Mummers Nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Photo by Steffen Klenk Huntington Avenue and the beach, Margate This daylong festival includes food vendors, kids’ activities, music, games, a Tiki bar, and more. Free admission; no beach tags required. Rain date: June 29. Full schedule at www. margatehasmore.com.

Mays Landing Hometown Celebration

▶10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Memorial Park, Main Street and Route 50 Now in its 26th year, this celebration features food, games, crafts, giveaways and community fun.

Upper Township Summer Celebration and Fireworks

▶4 p.m.

Amanda’s Field, 10 Sunset Drive, Petersburg Kick off summer with food, games, live music, and fireworks. Gates open at 4 p.m.

Ventnor Summer Beach Jam Kickoff

▶6:15 p.m.

Newport Avenue Beach

Celebrate the opening of Ventnor’s new beachfront stage with music by Ricky Stevens (6:30 p.m.) and The Usual Suspects (7:30 p.m.).

Longport Beach and Campfire Concert

▶6:30 p.m.

33rd Street and the beach, Longport Enjoy live music, a beach campfire, and s’mores. Bring a chair. Call 609487-7403 to register.

Brigantine Elks Bag Bingo

▶7 p.m.

Brigantine Elks Lodge, 400 W. Shore Drive Win designer bags during this evening of bingo. Admission is $25.

Details at www.brigantineelks.com.

Sunday, June 29

Ocean City Pops Opening Night: Jukebox

▶7:30 p.m.

Ocean City Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk Join Maestro Vince Lee for a concert spanning a variety of genres.

Open 7 Days A Week Mon-Fri 6am-6pm Sat & Sun 6am-5pm

*Coupon must be surrendered at the time of purchase and may not be combined with any other offer. No cash value. Discount is limited to four (4) admission tickets. Gift Shop discount excludes the purchase of selected jewelry as well as Steven Winkelstein (a.k.a. “The Winkle”) and Aunt Evelyn books. Coupon expires December 31,2025. Valid in-store only. Coupon Code: SL The Save Lucy Committee, Inc. received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

16

June 26, 2025

Tickets available at the Music Pier box office or www.oceancityvacation. com/boxoffice.

Monday, June 30

Summer Movie Nights at Ski Beach

▶6 – 9 p.m.

Dorset and Burk avenues, Ventnor Enjoy sunset views and family movies Dog Man and The Sandlot.

Food vendors will be onsite. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 1

Beach Walks in Ocean City

▶9 a.m.

59th Street and Central Avenue Leisurely walk begins at Corson’s Inlet State Park. Details at www. oceancityvacation.com.

Stars & Stripes Hayrides at Funny Farm Rescue

▶10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

6908 Railroad Blvd., Mays Landing Celebrate in red, white and blue.

Tickets include a surprise gift for each child. All proceeds benefit animal care. Cameras encouraged!

National EMS Memorial Service

▶10 a.m.

Shore Medical Center, 100 Medical Center Way, Somers Point This ceremony honors EMS and air medical providers who died in the line of duty.

OCTC presents: Curious George – The Golden Meatball

▶10:30 a.m.

Ocean City Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk A fun-filled family musical by Ocean City Theatre Company. Tickets available at the box office or www. oceancitytheatrecompany.com.

Thoughts from the Bookshelf

▶3 p.m.

Margate Library, 8100 Ventnor Ave. The monthly book club will discuss Educated by Tara Westover. RSVP by June 30 to tserota@jfsatlantic.org or call 609-287-8872.

Wednesday, July 2 Beach Exercise: Pilates

▶8 – 9 a.m.

6th Street Beach, Ocean City Bring a towel for this free class hosted by the Aquatic & Fitness Center. Call 609-398-6900 for details.

Wacky Wednesday Pie-Eating Contest

▶10:30 a.m.

Ocean City Music Pier No hands allowed! Free to the first 150 participants.

Freckle Contest in Ocean City

▶6 p.m.

Ocean City Music Pier Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

↘Continued on 18 June 26, 2025

17

↘Continued from 17 All ages welcome. Details at www. oceancityvacation.com.

Somers Point Pinochle Club

▶6 – 8:30 p.m.

Somers Point Senior Center, 22 N. Ambler Road New players welcome every Wednesday evening.

Ocean City Pops: Star Wars – The Complete Symphonic Saga I–IX

▶8 p.m.

Carey Stadium, Sixth Street and Atlantic Avenue Outdoor concert featuring the music of John Williams. Costumes encouraged. Bring a chair or towel.

Tickets at www.oceancityvacation. com/boxoffice.

Thursday, July 3 Sand Sculpting Contest

▶9 – 11 a.m.

6th Street Beach, Ocean City Open to kids, teens, adults and families. Registration opens at 9 a.m.

Judging at 11 a.m.

Ventnor Independence Day Celebration

▶5 – 9:45 p.m.

Newport Avenue Beach Live music, food trucks, fireworks, and a mile run. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

Thrilling Thursdays in Margate

▶7 p.m.

Huntington Avenue Beach, Margate Free movie night on the beach.

Pre-show fun begins at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.margatehasmore.com.

Bus trips

Phillies vs. Yankees, New York

▶Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. departure

EHT Recreation will host a trip to Yankee Stadium. Cost: $125 includes transportation, game ticket, and $20 food voucher. Register at www. ehtrec.com or call 609-272-8120.

Health and wellness Coffee Talk

▶Saturdays, 11 a.m.

Atlantic Community Wellness Center, Atlantic City Peer-led support group. No cost. Contact jgimbel@mhanj.org for info.

Dementia Support Group

▶Wednesday, July 2, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

6009 Paul and Thelma Lane, Mays Landing Held on the first and third Wednesday each month. Call Diane Conover at 609-402-6966.

LGBTQ Support Group

Beachstock, "the Planet's Biggest Beach Party," is Saturday, June 28. Photo credit: Margate Business Association Facebook

Atlantic Community Wellness Center, 1125 Atlantic Ave., Suite 617, Atlantic City A weekly group focused on gratitude and mental wellness. Call 609652-3800 or email jgimbel@mhanj. org.

Monday Meditation and Stretching

▶Tuesday, July 8, 6 p.m.

Mental Health Association, 4 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway All experience levels welcome. Call 609-652-3800 or email jgimbel@ mhanj.org.

Depression and Anxiety Group

▶Thursday, July 10, 10 a.m. (virtual)

▶Mondays, 11:30 a.m.

▶Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.

Family Success Center, 310 Bellevue Ave., Hammonton Safe and affirming space for LGBTQ individuals. Call 609-6523800 ext. 0315 or email jgimbel@ mhanj.org.

MHA Atlantic Family Meetings Support for loved ones of those with mental health/substance use disorders. Contact Gail Christian at 609-652-3800 ext. 0301 or gchristian@mhanj.org for meeting links.

NAMI Family Support and Connection Meeting

▶Monday, July 14, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 606 Shore Road, Somers Point Peer support for family members and caregivers. Visit www.namiacm. org or call 609-741-5125.

Do you have an upcoming event?

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

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June 26, 2025

Farmers Markets

Brigantine Farmers Market

▶Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Brigantine Community School parking lot Sheridan Blvd.

The Brigantine Farmers Market will be open to customers on Saturdays, rain or shine, through Sept.

6. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/brigantinefarmersmarket.

EHT Community Farmers Market

▶Sundays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Atlantic County Library 1 Swift Dr. Just Organics Marketplace and Honeytree Health host a Community Farmers Market on Sundays, featuring a variety of local pesticide-free farmers, food vendors, artists, crafters, music, and fun activities. Support family farmers. Markets open Sundays through Aug. 24. For more information, visit thehoneytree.net or e-mail wellness@thehoneytree.net.

Galloway Green Market

▶Thursdays, 4 – 7 p.m.

Historic Smithville Village Greene 615 E. Moss Mill Rd. Go Green Galloway hosts their weekly Green Market, featuring locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, handmade crafts, specialty breads and more. Markets open Thursdays through Sept. 4. Visit

Ride OF

Photos by Christina Martin gogreengalloway.org/greenmarket for information and updates.

Margate Community Farmers Market

▶Thursdays, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Steve and Cookies Parking Lot 9700 Amherst Ave. The Margate Farmers Market is preparing to open for the 2025 season. Markets will be open Thursdays through Aug. 28. For more information, visit margatehasmore.com.

Ocean City Farmers Market

▶Wednesdays, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

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Visit dozens of vendors on the grounds of the Tabernacle, and crafters in the street at 6th & Asbury Ave. Wednesdays through Sept. 3. For more information, call 1-800-BEACHNJ or visit oceancityvacation.com.

Somers Point Farmers Market

▶Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Somers Mansion 1000 Shore Rd. The Somers Point Farmers Market is open for the 2025 season. Dozens of local food vendors, crafters, and hometown businesses will set up on the grounds of historic and beautiful Somers Mansion each week. Markets are open on Saturdays through Sept.

6. For more information, go to visitsomerspoint.com.

Ventnor City Farmers Market

▶Fridays, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Newport & Atlantic Ave. Entering its 9th season, the Ventnor City Farmers Market is one of the most delightful places to shop on Fridays. The parking lot at St. James Church brims with 70+ farmers, food vendors, and crafters who offer fresh, seasonal picks, delicious artisan foods, baked goods, beverages, and beautiful handmade wares. Open Fridays through Aug. 29. Visit vcfm. org for more.

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By Steffen Klenk

Aerial adventure debuts at new family facility in Ocean City play areas geared toward younger children, many of which focus on sensory engagement and imaginative play.

Inside, the facility houses a golf and sports simulator, offering virtual experiences such as golf, baseball and soccer. The simulator, produced by Full Swing, is the first of its kind to be installed in Ocean City, according to the operators.

The Yard provides an alternative to the beach and boardwalk for

A

new recreational facility aimed at children and families recently opened in Ocean City, offering a mix of outdoor and indoor activities designed to encourage active play.

The Yard, located at 741 West Ave., features a netted aerial playground as its main attraction. Children ages 3 and older can climb on the Sky Net, an elevated obstacle course that allows for free play and exploration in a contained environment. The structure is designed to promote movement and coordination while offering a different kind of experience from traditional playgrounds.

In addition to the Sky Net, the outdoor area includes a lawn space with yard games such as cornhole and oversized block s .

There are also interactive wall panels and Families enjoy endless sunshine and yard games.

Owner TJ Heist, center, family and city officials cut the ribbon. families seeking a different type of outing.

While primarily geared toward children, the site offers features that may appeal to a wider age range, including shaded outdoor seating and climate-con-

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The facility opened in mid-June and is operating daily through the summer. Operators said the goal was to create a flexible environment where children could be physically active while families could also find space to relax or cool off.

Walk-ins are accepted, though reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and during peak hours. For more information, call 609-398-3345 or visit www. ocnjconcessions.com.

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The Yard is a family-focused attraction in Ocean City, a community that promotes itself as a family resort destination. As summer progresses, the facility is expected to draw a mix of year-round residents and visitors looking for something new to experience off the beach.

Photos by Steffen Klenk

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Wonderland animatronics find new home on Ocean City Boardwalk

By Steffen Klenk

B

efore Gillian’s Wonderland Pier closed its doors last October, crowds gathered to bid farewell to the beloved animatronic characters that had entertained generations. Known by many as the Man and Dog Show, these whimsical figures serenaded guests waiting for the monorail, while the famed Monkey Band kept lively rhythm beside the carousel.

When the park shuttered, questions lingered about where the animatronics would go. Now, eight months later, fans can breathe a sigh of relief — the characters haven’t strayed far from their boardwalk roots.

Those who venture to the back of the Promenade Food Court, between

22

7th and 8th streets on the Ocean City Boardwalk, will discover the familiar faces once again in action.

Thanks to the generosity of Promenade founder and owner Giovanni Baratta, the animatronics have found a new home in a room at the rear of the court.

Last week, a team of former Wonderland employees gathered to put the finishing touches on the display, making sure the set pieces and animatronic systems were fully functional.

Andrew Boylan, who worked at Wonderland for 13 years and maintained Man and Dog show at their new home at the Promenade in Ocean City. Photo by Steffen Klenk the animatronics, played a key role in their preservation. “I did Band from the auction company hanthe original cage used to house the everything there except own it,” Boydling the park’s assets. band.

Although the original staging was lan joked. After the park’s closure, he For months, the animatronics lived struck a deal with owner Jay Gillian offered as part of the sale, Boylan in a shed behind Boylan’s home as opted to build a new setup from to acquire the Man and Dog Show. he worked on their restoration. “I “Now I’ve reached ownership status,” scratch. “You needed a forklift to lift had the monkeys in my living room he said. He later obtained the Monkey it; it was huge,” he said, referring to to see how it would look,” he said.

June 26, 2025

L to R: Anthony Giovenella, Sam Lombardo, Andrew Boylan, Ian McGill, and Alex Corson, friends and supporters of Man and Dog show.

Measurements were carefully taken, and a new cage was constructed to fit the space.

Boylan and his team also repainted the fence surrounding the display and added subtle nods to its history — including a vintage weigh scale once owned by David Gillian that longtime fans may recognize. “It used to be with the Man and Dog Show for so long,” noted collaborator Alex Corson.

The animatronics first arrived at Wonderland in 1992 as retrofitted Chuck E. Cheese characters, performing eight country songs under the name “Rocky and the Railroad

The Monkey Band

Ramblers” for $1 per show. Over time, their costumes and playlists changed, and videos of their performances have since attracted hundreds of thousands of views online.

Boylan announced the show’s revival on his YouTube channel, @Actors317, and said its future depends on continued support.

“I could’ve kept them in my shed, but the fanbase for this is too massive,” he said.

Fans can now relive the nostalgia firsthand. The Man and Dog Show and Monkey Band are on display at the Promenade Food

Court, 744 Boardwalk in Ocean City.

Shows run about every hour throughout the summer. For updates, follow @manandogshow on Instagram.

“Don’t take this for granted,” Boylan said. “If you want to keep it alive, keep coming to the Promenade.”

Photos by Steffen Klenk Steffen Klenk is a photographer and multimedia journalist who enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.

You may contact Steffen at shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com.

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Biggest beach party kicks off summer in Margate

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eachstock 2025, “The Planet’s Biggest Beach Party,” returns to Margate on Saturday, June 28, with a full day of music, food, games, and summer fun.

Admission is free, and no beach tags are required for this popular annual celebration of Margate’s seaside community.

Now in its 14th year, Beachstock attracts more than 5,000 visitors to the beach between Huntington and Granville avenues. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a rain date of Sunday, June 29.

Presented by the Margate Business Association in partnership with the city of Margate, this year’s Beachstock features new food options including DonutNV, Margate Clam Shack, Squeezies Lemonade, Philly Pretzel Factory, and The Other Lucy.

Returning favorites include Margate Dairy Bar & Burger, Cali Shakes, Tacocat, and South Jersey Smoke House.

Entertainment takes center stage all day long, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with performances by Sunrise Cries and Mas Tequila Orchestra.

Family-friendly acrobatics from The Hook, Polynesian dance by the South

Pacific Island Dancers, and a lively set by country artist Nikki Briar follow.

The evening concludes with NJ British Invasion performing classics by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who at 8:30 p.m. A beach bonfire will accompany the festivities, and a special outdoor screening of Moana 2 begins at 6:30 p.m. for children and families.

New this year, guests can meet the newly crowned Miss New Jersey, Belle Nicholas, in her first public appearance. Visitors will also have a chance to take photos with the twin Lombardi Trophy from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory.

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Surfing lessons with Stacey’s Surf Camp Sand sculpting and kite demonstrations by Air Circus Wiffle ball home run derby Volleyball and cornhole tournaments Environmental exhibits courtesy of Sustainable Downbeach A kid’s stage with music, hula hoop contests, limbo, giveaways, and performances by students of Suzie Neustadter (noon–4 p.m.)

A waterfront tiki bar featuring beverages from Anheuser-Busch, Alibi Gin, Beach Whiskey, Sea Isle Iced Tea, Little Water Distillery, and more

NJ Unclaimed Property will also be on hand to help residents search for lost financial assets, and Cat

Country 107.3 and ESPN Sports Radio 97.3 will host interactive booths and giveaways.

To ease parking, free jitney service will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. along Atlantic Avenue between Coolidge and Fredericksburg avenues and the Eugene A. Tighe School.

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Family Tides

By Madison Russ

G

ployees I’ve met on the boardwalk are so sweet. They’re really amazing people. So, I feel like it’s definitely not something as scary as you’d think it would be,” she said.

Now settled in, she's found she really enjoys interacting with customers.

“I know some people don’t have this experience, but talking to the customers just gets me excited,” she said.

While Souder is settling into her first job, other teens are just getting started.

On a hot Saturday at Custard Hut in Somers Point, 13-year-old Jacob DeScioli was shadowing his cousin Jason Plum on his first day on the job.

Plum and his brother, Justin, now run the Somers Point location and its sister store in Upper Township, both of which have been owned and

etting a first summer job is a rite of passage for teens living at the shore, whether it’s scooping ice cream, working the front of a boardwalk shop, slinging pizzas or checking beach tags.

It’s often an exciting milestone and a chance to earn spending money, gain independence or start saving for a first car. It also offers valuable experience that helps teens build practical skills (even if the summer drop-offs aren’t always fun for parents stuck in traffic).

For 15-year-old Julianna Souder, landing her first job has been just that.

Souder secured a summer gig at Johnson’s Popcorn on the Ocean City Boardwalk after applying to several places through her school’s job fair at Mainland Regional High School. Souder is enjoying the job and hopes they will keep her on in the fall.

Although Souder said she needed the money, she was also seeking the experience.

“I also wanted the experience to start working earlier. It’s also good for my mental health to get outside more,” she said.

“My managers and my coworkers are super nice.”

Julianna Souder, 15, recently landed her first job at Like anything new, Johnson’s Popcorn on the Ocean City Boardwalk, where it came with a few chal- she’s already learning a lot. Photo by Madison Russ. lenges. Souder said she felt nervous about meeting her boss operated by the Plum family since for the first time — and even got lost 1977. Plum said he’s been handling on her first day at work. (She advises the hiring for about 10 years. fellow teens to leave a bit early and “This whole place fosters good ask their manager ahead of time how old-fashioned skills. You have to listen they want them to enter the building.) to an order, you have to remember, “Just because I get really anxious, you have to communicate it to your just going in person and meeting my team. You also have to simultaneously boss was really nerve-racking. But reassure the person at the window she’s so sweet, and a lot of the emthat I have your order — we’re going

June 26, 2025

to take care of you. So that’s courtesy; that’s service. It’s also teamwork,” said Plum. “It’s this symphony of good old-fashioned communication. And not to knock technology, but this is important — to balance it.”

Plum said he’s “really proud” of the employees who come in a little less outgoing and stand at the window and talk to 300 customers in a day.

“You have the opportunity 300 times to become a little braver, to become a little bit more forthright. So, we give these kids that opportunity, and it’s really cool to see a lot of them evolve,” he said.

He also encourages young workers to seek out feedback as a way to grow.

“Ask ‘How did I do?’ Ask for feedback from people who are better than you. And then ask further: ‘Is there anything else I can do to improve?’ The interest and the desire to improve via your participation with it is what we all want to see. It’s what coaches want to see. It’s just like, are you hungry to improve? Not for the business, not for this, but it actually helps you as a human being achieve better and better things,” Plum said.

Another tip: don’t be afraid to follow up.

Plum advises young workers not to hesitate to reach out to places where they’ve applied. He said he

Jacob DeScioli, 13, shadows his cousin, Jason Plum, on his first day at Custard Hut in Somers Point. Photo by Madison Russ. loves to see a young person inquiring about their hiring status.

“I love to hear back from people trying to get a job, like a phone call or a text,” said Plum, noting it won't be seen as a nuisance but a sign someone is “willing to stand up for themselves.”

“So please, reach out. If you put an application in, don’t sit back. Go and find out what happened to the application. If you want that job really bad, ask for another interview. Be like, ‘You know what, are you sure I’m not

a good fit?’ I would be floored and be like, ‘Okay! Come on in. Let’s talk again. You’re hired with a dollar raise because I was wrong, and I’m willing to admit it,’” he said.

As a recently hired teen, Souder advises her peers to be respectful throughout the hiring process, dress appropriately for interviews and let their personalities shine through.

“It’s really good to show charm and charisma at a job interview or first training shift. Especially if you’re doing a job that’s working directly

with people, it’s very good to have those skills,” she said. “I can tell you an employer will feel a lot better about hiring you if they can see you as a more outgoing person who is very comfortable talking to people.”

She noted that while applying for jobs and getting working papers online was straightforward — thanks to a step-by-step guide and a code from her manager — it still took time to hear back, get an interview scheduled, gather the necessary documents and train. Patience, she said, is important to keep in mind.

Another teen tip? Cast a wide net, but be intentional.

“Just reach out to as many places as you can,” said DeScioli. “Find jobs you like. Don’t just apply for a job just because you want the money — apply for something that you actually like to do.”

Madison Russ is an awardwinning journalist , copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals , often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area's vibrant arts scene.

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How to protect your garden when it’s hot, hot, hot

By Tammy Thornton

D

uring a week of sweltering temperatures, you may have spent your days at the breezy beach or even avoided the great outdoors altogether by taking cover in cool air conditioning. Unfortunately, your garden had nowhere to hide and might be showing signs of distress.

After a heat wave, the first order of business is damage control. Do a walk through and analyze the situation. Some of your plants will show obvious signs of stress as if they are crying out for a drink of water.

Hydrangeas shrivel up and hang limp when they need watering. Although it’s best not to wait until they look so visibly miserable, they are also drama queens that usually perk up after a healthy dose of water. Choose a time early in the morning to water your plants. You want to give them time to

Perennials like this yarrow can tolerate heat and drought. absorb the water before the sun simply evaporates every precious drop.

Give your plants one good soaking as opposed to frequent shallow doses of water that are only wetting the surface of the soil. But make sure the soil is well-drained, because even during

a heat wave, most plants do not like soggy roots, which can lead to rot.

Potted plants must have drainage holes, but keep in mind that potted plants also dry out faster, so give them extra water during droughts or heat waves.

Look for other signs of damage such as diseased, brown, or dead leaves. You will want to cut away these unhealthy leaves since they will draw energy away from an already stressed plant. Prune the stems of your plants so that they have good airflow, since powdery mildew thrives in humid conditions. You may also need to cut away some of your precious flowers.

Producing flowers takes a lot of energy from a plant. Under stressful conditions, your goal is to save the plant and keep it as healthy as possible. Give your plant a chance to recover and you can both focus on flowers once the danger zone has passed.

One of the best ways to protect your plants comes long before the crisis arrives.

Preventative measures will help your plants survive weather extremes. Mulching your plants provides a layer of protection by helping to regulate the soil temperature and protect the roots from both drought and cold. As a bonus, organic mulch will break down and provide nutrients

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June 26, 2025

survive difficult garden situations.

Perennials by their very nature are better equipped to handle drought and frost. They have stared down winter and reemerged in spring with vigor. Established perennials will have deep roots and are built to last year after year. However, newly planted perennials will need a little extra coddling. Avoid planting new plants in the garden on hot days. If you found irresistible coneflowers and daisies from the garden market, keep them in their original containers and in the shade until the heat wave passes. I like to check the weather and move plants around on an overcast day when rain is in the forecast. A few days of rain will help new plants settle into their new homes nicely.

Plant annuals like lantana to fill in bare spots and proWhen shopping for new vide nectar for pollinators while your perennials reboot. plants for your garden, to your plants while also suppressing choose drought-resistant weeds. Mulch will contribute to the perennials suited to our South Jersey overall health of your plants, and Garden Zone 7 such as yarrow, penhealthy plants are more likely to stemon, coreopsis, and sedum.

Annuals generally have shallow roots and are less likely to survive drought or inconsistent conditions.

But they do have their place. When, despite all your best efforts, a plant fails, annuals can step up to the plate as pinch hitters. They will add a pop of color to a bare spot and provide pollinators with extra nectar and pollen while your perennial reboots.

Some drought resistant annuals are: lantana, cosmos, marigold, and zinnia.

When stressed, some of your vegetables and herbs will begin to bolt. This will be most evident in cool-weather plants such as cilantro, spinach, and lettuces. They will start putting out flowers that will eventually go to seed.

Many of the flowers of these herbs and vegetables are also edible and look pretty as a garnish. I enjoy these flowering herbs at this unique stage in the garden and eventually harvest the seeds for next year’s planting.

We would love to hear from our readers. How are you surviving hot days in the garden? Send your comments and questions 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.

Events Here are some of the fun events happening in the Wildwoods:

JULY 4 Independence Day Family Parade & Patriotic Pooch Parade 4th of July Party in Byrne Plaza Fireworks Spectacular over the Boardwalk JULY 4–6 Sports Cards, Toys, Comics & Collectibles JULY 11 Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival JULY 11–13 New Jersey Jeep Invasion JULY 11–13 NJ BBQ Championship & Anglesea Blues Festival JULY 18–20 New Jersey Bronco Invasion JULY 22–25 Harlem Globetrotters JULY 26 North Wildwood Christmas in July, Featuring Surfing Santas Wildwood Christmas in July, Featuring Boardwalk Golf Cart Parade Wildwood Crest Christmas in July Festival and Boat Parade JULY 26–27 Jus Nice Sneaker & Trading Card Convention

JULY 26–27 Beach Ultimate Frisbee Tournament JULY 30 Wildwoods Baby Parade TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS TILL AUG. 21 Doo Wop Back to the ’50s Neon Night Tours FRIDAY NIGHTS JUNE 27–AUG. 29 Friday Night Fireworks SATURDAY MORNINGS TILL AUG. 30 Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market

LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEK Sundays at Fox Park 7:30 p.m. | June 29–Aug. 24 Mondays at Sunset Lake 7:30 p.m. | June 30–Aug. 18 Tuesdays at Crest Arts Pavilion 7 p.m. | July 1–Aug. 19 Wednesdays at Centennial Park 7 p.m. | July 2–Aug. 20 Thursdays at Byrne Plaza 7:30 p.m. | June 19–Aug. 28 Saturdays at Centennial Park 7 p.m. | June 28–Sept. 20

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Rooted in history: The Tree Monument of Buena Vista Township $20,000 to transform the tree into a work of art that would honor the township’s history while serving as a contemporary landmark. s vacationers make their way to the Jersey Shore Local tree surgeon Gary Heitz via Route 40, they pass prepared the tree, and chainsaw through Richland, a quiet artist Brian Ackley carved nearly 40 village in Buena Vista Township on intricate designs into its trunk and the western side of Atlantic Counbranches. ty. This small Pinelands community, On May 27, 2017, during Buena home to just over 800 residents, may Vista’s Sesquicentennial celebration, seem unassuming at first glance, but the Tree Monument was officially nestled in Saw Mill Park is an extraorunveiled at the 3rd Annual Richland dinary sight: the Tree Monument, Village Festival. perhaps the most “unusual tree” in Hundreds gathered for the dediNew Jersey. cation ceremony, which served as the This striking sculpture stands as a centerpiece of a festive day filled with testament to Richland’s history and family activities including a classic car resilience. The story begins with a parade, train rides on the Cape May mighty white oak that stood for 235 Seashore Lines, live music, and over years, dating back to around 1780, 50 vendors and crafters. near a sawmill that played a key role The carvings on the Tree Monin the region’s early development. ument reflect the rich past and viWhen the tree succumbed to time brant spirit of Buena Vista Township. in 2015, it retained a 125-foot wingAmong the designs are depictions of Native American figures, agricultural span, marking its former glory. Rather than removing the tree entirely, the scenes, and iconic local landmarks like the clock tower and sawmill. Modern symbols, such as the township’s roads and sports team mascot, add a contemporary touch.

Unique carvings include a wise owl representing native species, a deer symbolizing local wildlife, and Father Time, a nod to the enduring passage of years. The quirky renaming of Richland to “Mojito” for a brief marketing partnership with Bacardi in 2004 is also memorialized in the carvings, celebrating the area’s role as a major mint supplier.

Saw Mill Park, home to the Tree Monument, offers more than just its centerpiece. The 1-acre park features The striking sculpture stands as a testament to Richland’s history a children’s play and resilience. train, a steel Penncommunity sought a creative way sylvania Railroad caboose from the to preserve its legacy. Led by Mayor 1930s, a gazebo and memorials dedChuck Chiarello and the Buena Vista icated to veterans and 9/11. Visitors Township Committee, the vision for can also view an original painting of the Tree Monument was born. the sawmill and the white oak, creCommunity members raised over ated by a descendant of the Smith Day Trippin’

By Sarah Fertsch

A

June 26, 2025

family, early settlers of Richland.

The Tree Monument is illuminated at night, creating a stunning visual experience as shadows play across the carved designs. Since its unveiling, it has drawn countless visitors eager to marvel at the intricate carvings and reflect on the community’s shared history.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply a curious traveler, the Tree Monument in

Richland is a must-see destination.

It serves as a lasting memorial to the mighty oak’s days of glory and a testament to the creativity and unity of Buena Vista Township.

As you journey along Route 40, take a moment to visit Saw Mill Park and experience this unique landmark.

It’s more than just a tree – it’s an inspirational tribute to the roots of a community and the branches of its future.

31

Murder, humor and Cape May: Inside the world of Libby Klein

By Julia Train

H

ey, avid readers, did you know there’s an author whose books are all based in Cape May? Libby Klein — born Lisa Schwartz — was raised in Cape May and writes cozy mystery novels based on her hometown.

Klein adopted “Libby Klein” as a pen name to honor her late grandmother and craft a writing identity steeped in warmth, wit and murder — fictional, of course.

When Klein began writing a decade ago, cozy mystery tropes were firmly entrenched with 20-something heroines, inheritance-driven plots, cats and charming male cops doubling as love interests. She broke nearly all of them.

Her first book, “Class Reunions Are Murder,” introduces Poppy McAllister, a middle-aged, plus-sized widow who returns to Cape May for her 25th high school reunion — and ends up accused of murder when a former cheerleader drops dead in front of her old locker. The novel

kicked off a nine-book series full of sharp humor, romantic tension and inventive plotlines.

Klein’s ideas come from unexpected places — Facebook posts, antique shows or real-life oddities. One book was inspired by an LED face mask that looked “like something out of ‘Doctor Who.’” Another book featured a 19th-century vampire-slaying kit that had silver bullets, dehydrated garlic and a stake.

To visualize characters, Klein often builds Pinterest boards or scours images online based on the attributes she comes up with. One character ended up resembling “Lost” actor Josh Holloway — by accident.

“My daughter-in-law came in and said, ‘Why do you have Sawyer from ‘Lost’ on your wall?’... I had never heard of Josh Holloway or watched ‘Lost,’” Klein said.

While she enjoys reading romance, Klein gravitates toward mystery because of its structure and reader expectations.

“I didn’t want to write sex scenes,” she admitted. “So I thought, I’ll kill someone instead.”

Lisa Shwartz, or Libby Klein, with all her books.

What she loves most is the puzzle.

She said, “It’s not about the murder.

It’s about restoring order, finding the killer and outsmarting the bad guy.”

But behind the clever plots and colorful characters is a harsh publishing reality.

“One of the hardest things for fans to hear is that publishers don’t care how good the book is,” Klein explained. “They only care how much it sells.” If a beloved book is passed around instead of purchased, it may still be canceled — even if every reader raves. “It’s just like TV,” she said. “It comes down to numbers.”

That makes the longevity of her

“Poppy McAllister” series particularly impressive. While most series get three to five books, she got nine.

Her contracts came in waves: three books, then two, then three more and, finally, one last book. “They told me to tie up all the loose ends. I had two books planned, so I had to cram a lot into one,” Klein said.

Klein is now launching a second series with a completely different tone. “Vice and Virtue,” the first book in the “Layla Virtue Mysteries,” blends cozy elements with deeper emotional arcs.

“My publisher wanted me to shift into women’s fiction,” she said. “In cozy mysteries, the ‘center pole’ is the murder. In women’s fiction, it’s the emotional journey.”

In “Vice and Virtue,” Layla, a former cop with PTSD and memory gaps, is reluctantly drawn into a murder investigation while navigating her own trauma and building new relationships.

The “Vice and Virtue” series’ next book, “Gimme Shelter,” will be out in April 2026 and can be found anywhere that sells books.

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What’s happening in Ocean City Ocean City Pops’ Jukebox and Killer Queen at the Music Pier

A

Buzzworthy Books, Events, And More From best-selling books to workshops, and from online resources to children’s activities, the Ocean City Free Public Library has something for everyone this spring.

www.oceancitylibrary.org 1735 Simpson Ave. | (609) 399-2434 HOURS Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm Sat. 9am-5pm • Sun. 11am-5pm CURBSIDE PICKUP Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm Sat. 9am-4pm • Sun. 11am-4pm

great 2025 season at the Ocean City Music Pier continues this week with the Ocean City Pops’ Opening Night Jukebox on Sunday and a premier tribute to the music of Queen on Monday.

Few orchestras in the world have the flexibility and versatility of the Ocean City Pops, and Maestro Vince Lee will take concertgoers on a whirlwind tour of the wide variety of genres that the Pops is famous for.

The orchestra is the star of the show.

The show will be at 7:30 p.m.

June 29 at the Ocean City Music Pier, and tickets are on sale online at oceancityvacation.com/box-office or in-person at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office and at welcome centers in town.

Killer Queen pays tribute to Freddie Mercury and the rock band Queen. The high-energy band features Patrick Myers and brings to life all of the Queen classics and anthems.

The show is at 7 p.m. June 30. Tickets are available at etix.com and at the Music Pier Box Office.

Weekly family events start in July

●

A full summer of weekly events will begin in July. The lineup this year will include: ● Beach Exercise - Yoga (8 a.m. at 6th Street Beach) and Family Nights on the Boardwalk (7-9

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Killer Queen

●

p.m.) on Mondays.

Beach Walks (9 a.m. at 59th Street and Central), Funtastic Tuesdays (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Asbury Avenue) and Mummers Nights (7-9 p.m. on the Boardwalk) on Tuesdays.

Beach Exercise – Pilates Yoga (8 a.m. at 6th Street Beach), Beach Walks (6:30 p.m. at 59th Street

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June 26, 2025

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Mummers Nights on the Boardwalk are every Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. Photo by Steffen Klenk and Central), and Family Nights on the Boardwalk (7-9 p.m.) on Wednesdays. ● Market Days (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Asbury Avenue) and Mummers Nights (7-9 p.m. on the Boardwalk) on Thursdays. ● Beach Exercise – Low Impact (8 a.m. at 6th Street Beach) and Walking Club (8 a.m. on the Boardwalk from the Music Pier) on Fridays.

Tickets on sale for Night in Venice viewing area at Bayside Center Ticket sales will open at 9 a.m.

Thursday (June 26) for a special viewing area at the Bayside Center for Night in Venice.

The Bayside Center at 520 Bay Avenue will be open with family entertainment and activities for the 2025 Night in Venice boat parade on July 26. The viewing area will include a picnic spot and snack stand, face-painting, a DJ, and bleacher seating. Ticket prices will be $6 for children (12-and-under) and $10 for adults (with service fees includ-

ed). The area will remain open and provide a perfect spot to view the spectacular fireworks display after the boat parade.

The boat parade starts at 6:30 p.m. and the fireworks display will go off at approximately 9:30 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided until the parade arrives and will resume until the fireworks start. No alcohol is permitted, and no parking will be available, but the free shuttle service will be available from remote parking at the Ocean City Municipal Airport, Ocean City Community Center and Shelter Road parking area. Admission is limited, so don’t wait to make your purchase.

Tickets will be available online at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, by calling 609-399-6111 or in-person at the Music Pier Box Office, City Hall, the Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, and the 46th Street Information Center.

Presenting sponsors for 2025 Night in Venice are ACME Markets and OCNJ Watersports.

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Tickets on sale for Night in Venice viewing area and concert

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ickets will go on sale at 9 a.m.

Thursday, June 26, for a special viewing area at the Bayside Center during Ocean City’s Night in Venice celebration and for a rock concert at the Music Pier the evening prior.

The Bayside Center, located at 520 Bay Ave., will host family-friendly entertainment and activities during the 2025 Night in Venice boat parade on Saturday, July 26. The viewing area will include a picnic space, snack stand, Photo by Steffen Klenk face painting, a DJ, and bleacher seating. Tickets are priced with live entertainment continuing at $6 for children 12 and under and until the parade arrives and resum$10 for adults, with service fees ining afterward until the fireworks cluded. The area will remain open for begin. Alcohol is not permitted, and a prime view of the fireworks display parking will not be available on-site. following the parade.

However, a free shuttle service will The boat parade begins at 6:30 operate from remote lots at the p.m., with fireworks scheduled for Ocean City Municipal Airport, Ocean approximately 9:30 p.m. Gates at the City Community Center and Shelter Bayside Center will open at 4:30 p.m., Road parking area. Space is limited,

so early ticket purchase is encouraged.

To kick off the weekend, Boat House Row: The Yacht Rock Experience will perform a special concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, at the Ocean City Music Pier. The six-piece band will perform smooth rock hits from the 1970s and 1980s, including music

by Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Toto and more. Tickets for the concert are $30 and $25, inclusive of fees.

Tickets will be available online at www.oceancityvacation. com/boxoffice, by calling 609-3996111, or in person at the Music Pier Box Office, City Hall, the Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, and the 46th Street Information Center.

The presenting sponsors of the 2025 Night in Venice are ACME Markets and OCNJ Watersports.

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Tina Stephens joins Ocean City’s shopping scene on Asbury Avenue

new wave of style has arrived on Asbury Avenue as Tina Stephens, a brand known for travel-friendly, versatile women’s fashion, opens its doors at 745 Asbury Ave. The boutique celebrated its grand opening June 14, just in time for the bustling summer season, and is poised to become a staple for both visitors and locals seeking effortless elegance with a touch of coastal charm.

easy-to-care-for, versatile clothing, Tina Stephens fits seamlessly into the Jersey Shore aesthetic. The boutique features breathable linens, soft cottons, and luxurious silks—all designed to mix, match, and move with the wearer. From beach days to date nights, the store offers options for every occasion.

“Our brand is all about effortless fashion that’s stylish, comfortable and ready for anything,” Lackovic said. “Whether you’re packing for a weekend getaway or spending the whole season here, our washable linens and versatile silhouettes make getting dressed both relaxed and elevated.”

Lackovic brings more than a decade of experience to her role, having started with the company as a store manager in Charleston, South Carolina, before rising to her current po-

The decision to bring Tina Stephens to Ocean City was a natural one, according to the brand’s leadership.

“Ocean City has long been a favorite destination for our clients in the summer,” said Angelena Lackovic, vice president of stores for Tina Stephens. “It has a perfect blend of laid-back coastal charm and vibrant community energy, and Asbury Avenue is the center of it all. We’re honored to be among the unique shops and independent businesses here.”

Founded with a mission to support women’s lifestyles through

sition. Prior to joining Tina Stephens, she honed her retail expertise with BCBG Max Azria and Bebe—experience that continues to shape her leadership style.

The Ocean City location, painted in the brand’s signature “Tina pink,” offers something unique for shoppers. Visitors can expect personalized service from a team eager to introduce them to the collection. The grand opening was met with enthusiastic support from both customers and fellow business owners.

Asbury Avenue’s newest addition isn’t just about clothing—it’s about

By Sarah Fertsch

A

June 26, 2025

community.

“We want to become a staple on Asbury Avenue, not just for visitors but for locals who want beautiful clothing that fits their lifestyle yearround,” Lackovic said. “We hope to create a space where women feel confident, welcomed and excited to visit.”

Tina Stephens is also looking ahead. This fall, the brand will launch a new knitwear collection, further

cementing its reputation for craftsmanship. The company also plans to reopen its Asheville, North Carolina, location, which temporarily closed due to Hurricane Helen.

For now, Ocean City shoppers can enjoy a curated collection that blends relaxed sophistication with a coastal twist. With its prime location at 745 Asbury Ave., Tina Stephens is bringing fresh fashion and new energy to the heart of downtown.

37

New Jersey utilities to cut $60 from electric bills to offset controversial price spike State energy regulators approve programs to defray rate hikes

By Nikita Biryukov, NJ Monitor

T

he state Board of Public Utilities approved several measures last week to reduce the burden on New Jersey residents angry about a spike in electricity costs that took effect on June 1.

In unanimous votes, the utility regulator backed orders that would defer a total of $60 from summer electricity bills, extend $175 in bill credits to low-income ratepayers, waive reconnection fees, and extend winter shutoff protections through July, August, and September.

“Sometimes, we don’t have the opportunity to thank our utilities enough. They really stepped up to the plate very quickly,” said BPU Commissioner Zenon Christodoulou. “It wasn’t their doing, that these prices went up, but they really are taking a lot of the brunt of this and we really appreciate their efforts. They came to us and they came up with plans

as quickly as we could imagine.”

The deferred bill program would cut $30 from monthly bills for all ratepayers in July and August, when summer heat pushes electricity usage to its peak.

Customers would repay those balances, which would not increase due to interest or carrying costs, over the following six months, said BPU Executive Director Bob Brabston.

“No customer will pay a penny more as a result of this, and all customers will benefit by having their typically high summer bills eased somewhat as part of this proposal,” Brabston told the board.

Qualifications for summer shutoff protections are identical to those in the Winter Termination Program.

Residents who are enrolled in certain assistance programs — like the federally funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Low Income

Home Energy Assistance Program, among others — or receive state or local utility assistance are eligible for winter shutoff protections.

The deferred bill program, which would require submissions from the state’s four regulated utilities by July 1, also would bar summer shutoffs for ratepayers protected by Linda’s Law, which requires utilities to wait 90 days before discontinuing services over nonpayment for customers who use life-sustaining medical equipment powered by electricity.

They also call for utilities to offer deferred payment agreements lasting up to 24 months, compared to the 12 now required under state law. Those agreements are separate to the bill deferral program for July and August.

The actions are regulators’ latest effort to defray the impact of a steep

rise in electricity supply costs that pushed rates up by roughly 20% at the start of June.

“It is not perfect. There is no silver bullet here,” BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy said Wednesday. “These generation cost increases are outside of the (regulated utilities). They’re outside of the control of this agency, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t all share some responsibility to help to reduce costs, particularly in these very, very high-usage months.”

Republicans have charged Gov. Phil Murphy’s renewables-heavy energy agenda stalled new generation in the state, leading to the supply-demand imbalance that’s driving up costs.

On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Tony Bucco (R-Morris) called the board’s latest moves a politically motivated election-year effort.

“The problem is it doesn’t fix the problem. It’s just an election-year gimmick to get them past another election,” Bucco said. “This is something we have to address: How are we going to fix this? And really, the only way to fix it is to increase supply here in New Jersey.”

He said officials could instead take up Republican proposals that would, among other things, suspend the imposition of sales tax on energy.

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he Beach Boys have been one of the most popular headline attractions of Atlantic City’s legal-gambling era. So much so that it would be difficult without a good deal of research to list every local appearance the legendary pop-rock unit has made during the past 47 years (they were likewise no strangers to Steel Pier in the pre-casino days, having performed there in July 1969). But next week will mark the 42nd anniversary of what was without question their highest-profile local gig ever, which took place on the beach on July 4, 1983.

Although the program stands as the largest, free entertainment event

ever staged on the local strand—the New York Times reported that an estimated 200,000 people were there-it was not originally on Atlantic City’s July 4 “to-do” list that year.

The story begins not in Atlantic City in July, but in April, 1983 in Washington, D.C., where the group had been booked for a free, Independence Day concert set for the National Mall. But then fate, in the form of James Watt, then the nation’s Secretary of the Interior, intervened.

Watt, who died at 85 in 2023, was an ultra-conservative Pentecostal fundamentalist whose political and social views were extreme by any measure. For instance, he once declared all environmentalists to be “Nazis.” It was his department that had jurisdiction over the National Mall.

The Beach Boys had performed Independence Day shows at the landmark site in 1980 and 1981; Watt, citing what he described as “high drug use, high alcoholism, broken bottles, some injured people [and] some fights,” decided to cancel the concert.

To drive home his point, he declared

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the Beach Boys (the Beach Boys, for goodness’ sake!) were not appropriate for the venue because they would draw the “wrong element” to the site (ultimately, that year’s D.C. celebration would showcase Wayne Newton and the U.S. Army Marching Blues Band).

“We’re trying to have an impact for wholesomeness,” Watt said, according to a 2023 article posted at theguardian.com. “July 4 will be a traditional ceremony for the family and for solid, clean American lives.

We’re not going to encourage drug abuse and alcoholism as was done in the past years.

before the press on the White House lawn holding, of all things, a plaster foot which had what was presumed to be a bullet hole in it (an apparent acknowledgment that he had figuratively shot himself in the foot).

“Obviously,” offered the clearly chastened cabinet member, “I didn’t know anything to start with. The president is a friend of the Beach Boys. He likes them, and I’m sure when I get to meet them, I’ll like them.” And thus, the decision to ban the Boys was rescinded. But the Beach Boys’ ship (the Sloop John B?) had already sailed from the nation’s capital.

Offers from other locales were quickly received by the group, which was determined to do a July 4 show somewhere on the East Coast.

Among the suitors was what was then known as Caesars Boardwalk Regency Hotel & Casino (now Caesars Atlantic City), which partnered with Chevrolet on the winning bid.

According to arThe Beach Boys Atlantic City concert in 1983. chive.org, the group “The reason for the arrests and performed 24 songs that day, among other trouble, we concluded, was them such signatures as “California that we had the rock bands attracting Girls,” “God Only Knows,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda” and the wrong element, and you couldn’t bring your family, your children, down “Good Vibrations” (audio is available to the Mall for a Fourth of July picnic at archive.org/details/beach-boysin the great traditional sense because live-on-atlantic-city-beach-caeyou’d be mugged by…the wrong elsars-1983-07-04). ement, whatever is the nice way to Then-Mayor Michael Matthews say it.” declared the event a raging success, telling the media: “I think that SecreWatt’s move engendered vociferous responses, especially in the tary Watt was wrong in his evaluation media. Among those in the anti-Watt and the people proved that. [The aucamp was the New York Times, which dience] was orderly, they were a good compared Watt to Iranian Supreme audience, they were an enthusiastic Leader Ayatollah Khomeini because audience.” of the ban on Western popular culIndeed, it was a peaceful, wholeture Khomeini instituted when he some day, with but two arrests--for took power in 1979. public drunkenness and attempting According to the Guardian’s webto access the stage--reported. site, the Beach Boys’ official response However, the concert’s historical to the cancellation included a remindsignificance didn’t end with its backer of a July 4 performance that had story and the huge attendance: What taken place five years earlier: no one—including the group’s members—could have known at the time “The Soviet Union had enough was that the show would be the last confidence in the Beach Boys to invite them to perform in Leningrad [on] one in which all five founding Beach July 4, 1978,” read a statement reBoys—Brian Wilson, who died earlier leased on their behalf. “Obviously, the this month, his brother Dennis, who Soviet Union, a much more controlled accidentally drowned in December, society than our own, did not feel the 1983, their brother Carl Wilson, Mike group attracted the wrong element.”

Love and Al Jardine—would perform together.

Watt’s boss, President Ronald Reagan—whom Watt later described, per the Times, as “a friend” of the Chuck Darrow has spent more band, called Watt on the carpet for than 40 years writing about his actions, and the message was Atlantic City casinos. received: He subsequently appeared

June 26, 2025

41

Jersey Shore fishing heats up Flounder, croaker, kingfish and more showing strong action

By Noel Feliciano, Owner, One Stop Bait & Tackle

F

ishing along the Jersey Shore is on fire right now, and we’re seeing some of the best action in years.

Anglers are catching flounder in big numbers, with many keepers being reported daily. Whether you’re fishing from the jetties, surf, or back bays, the flounder bite is consistent — and it’s only

Manny Carmona-Bruno getting better.

In addition to flounder, we’re seeing strong runs of weakfish and kingfish. These fish are showing up close to shore and in the surf, giving both boaters and landbased anglers a chance to get in on the action. Small hooks and bloodworms are working great for the kingfish, while soft plastics and jigs are doing the trick for

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are best — but for those who target them, the reward is a powerful fight and excellent table fare.

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to fishing, now’s the time to grab your gear and get out there. Stop by One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City for the latest updates, live bait and everything you need for a successful day on the water.

Tight lines and good luck out there!

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Another exciting sign of the season: croakers are everywhere. These tasty panfish are perfect for beginners and families, biting readily and putting up a fun fight. Bring the kids and enjoy some non-stop action right off the piers or shoreline.

One of the most unique catches right now is the sheepshead, which are being landed under the Brigantine Bridge. These fish require a bit of finesse — fiddler crabs and sand fleas

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Seashell identification guide

By Sarah Fertsch

L

ooking to find seashells by the seashore? You’ve probably spotted hundreds of shells in a variety of shapes and colors while enjoying New Jersey’s beautiful beaches. The sand beneath your feet has been formed by rocks and shells ground down by waves over hundreds of thousands of years.

On northern beaches like Sandy Hook, sand is coarser. In Atlantic City, it’s softer and finer. Down in Cape May, you’ll find pebbles and Cape May diamonds. These differences are due to the surrounding land masses, which shape the waves and cause sand texture to vary. Among these sands and rocks, shells along the coast of New Jersey tend to remain fairly consistent. Here are some of the most common shells you’ll find along the Jersey Shore:

Knobbed whelk

This is New Jersey’s state shell.

The knobbed whelk comes from a predatory sea snail native to the East

44

Knobbed whelk Coast between Maine and northern Florida. The shell is dextral, meaning it spirals to the right. Its color is usually pale gray or olive, and the interior tends to be a muted orange.

These snails live in deeper waters, and when they die or abandon their shells, they often wash up on shore.

Like conches, knobbed whelks are edible and can be enjoyed deep-fried or in salads.

Blood ark

These white bivalves range from Canada to Brazil. Surprisingly, the shell is often covered in a dark brown fur called periostracum, which protects the mollusk and makes the shell thick and sturdy. The 35 hinge lines between the shells act as “teeth” to

June 26, 2025

help it stay closed. The blood ark is named for its red blood—rare among mollusks. It thrives about 10 feet beneath the water’s surface, buried in mud.

Common slipper shell

This shell comes from a medium-sized snail found across the Atlantic Ocean. Also known as the boat shell, it’s considered an invasive species in countries such as Italy, Denmark, the United Kingdom, France and Spain due to its damage to oyster beds. In some areas, it’s consumed in clam juice or broth. In Hawaii, it’s even considered a delicacy.

brous substance secreted by the mollusk’s foot. They have separate sexes and reproduce by releasing sperm and eggs into the water. Unfortunately, they are a favorite food source for jellyfish.

Atlantic surf clam

Blue mussel

Also known as the common mussel, this edible bivalve lives in intertidal zones around the world. Mussels attach to rocks and other surfaces using byssal threads—a strong, fi-

Shark eye

Surf clams are the largest bivalves in the North Atlantic. Found

Ponderous ark tween 12 and 20 years. Females can release up to 5 million eggs into the water at once. Quahogs burrow into sand in intertidal zones and thrive in high-salinity environments.

Ponderous ark

This shell is less common in New Jersey but is one of the most frequent finds on Sanibel Island in Florida, known as a beachcomber’s paradise. It is often mistaken for a white shell stained with tar. The ponderous ark is found along the coast from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico and typically resides on the ocean floor in shallow water.

which also help them filter plankton. Their rounded shells vary in color—purple, blue-gray or red-brown.

Scallops have short tentacles and between 30 and 40 eyes, which they use to detect predators like sea stars.

False angelwing

Common slipper shell from Maine to North Carolina, they can grow nearly 9 inches long. These clams are commonly harvested and used in chowders, pastas and stews.

They live up to 35 years and feed on plankton and algae.

Northern quahog

This farmed clam is sustainably grown along the East Coast. It can grow up to 5 inches long and lives be-

This clam species is known for its delicate, spoon-shaped wings that give it a graceful appearance. Its shell is more brittle than most, so handle with care if you spot one. Found primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and New England, its shell ranges in color from off-white to a muddy yellow.

Bay scallop

Bay scallops move by rapidly opening and closing their ribbed shells,

This mollusk is a member of the moon snail family and is both predatory and cannibalistic. Found throughout the Atlantic, shark eyes live under the sand, using their large foot to move.

When hunting, they latch onto other snails and drill holes in their shells using a radula—a sharp, tongue-like organ. They inject acid through the hole to digest the prey inside.

Eastern oyster

Once abundant along the East Coast, oyster populations were depleted in the 20th century due to disease and overharvesting. Thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have since rebounded. Adult oysters are sessile, meaning they remain in one place for life. Their shells range in color from off-white to brown. Oysters are farmed and wild-caught, and remain a staple in American cuisine.

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Community Co-op breathes new life into historic building

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By Rich Baehrle

I

n an era when buildings are often demolished at the first sign of disrepair — especially in Atlantic City — it’s rare to see one restored. But that’s exactly what’s happening at 7 S. South Carolina Avenue, a circa-1920 structure that has sat vacant for more than two decades. Though it lacks plumbing and electricity, this once-forgotten property is poised for a dramatic comeback.

Many potential buyers walked away, seeing only a decaying shell. But Ren Parikh, founder of Ideal Institute of Technology, saw potential. “I’m going to address the needs through innovation, opportunity and empowerment,” said Parikh, who envisions a hub for addressing food insecurity and revitalizing the surrounding community.

With support from a $4 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Develop- The Ideal Community Co-op will open next year. ment Authority (NJEDA), the Ideal Community Co-op is set With Ideal Institute now at the to become a 20,000-square-foot helm, the co-op market is expected community resource. The multi-levto open in spring 2026. The initiative el facility will combine affordable demonstrates how public-private food access, workforce training partnerships can drive meaningful and entrepreneurial opportunities change — and how Atlantic City continues to reimagine its future.

— anchored by aquaponic farming, Remember to shop, play and stay a cloud kitchen and a sustainable delivery network. local. Support small businesses and local innovation.

Planned uses include: ●

●

46

First floor: A 5,000-square-foot grocery offering affordable, locally sourced goods.

Second floor: An aquaponics facility growing fresh seafood and organic produce, ensuring yearround sustainability.

Rich Baehrle, of Berkshire Hathaway Fox and Roach, can be reached at 609-226-6680 or 609-641-0011. Email richardbaehrle@gmail.com or see www.getrichinrealestateSJ.com

June 26, 2025

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Summer Fridays at the Ventnor City Farmers Market

By Chef Christina Martin

S

ummer break for schools in Atlantic County is just beginning. As a high school teacher, it is the beginning of a two-

month break and my favorite time to be able to go to the local farmers markets.

For the first Friday I had off I headed to the Ventnor City Farmers Market, located in the parking lot of the St. James Church at 6421 Atlantic Ave. The market hours are 8:30 a.m.12 p.m.

This farmers market, which is now in its ninth year, hosts over 75 vendors each week and is dog friendly. Many people walk or bike to the market. There is street parking and a small lot close by which fills up

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quickly. The Ventnor City Farmers Market has something for everyone and many familiar vendor faces.

On my visit I stopped by Grassia’s Italian Spice Co., a favorite of mine because what is cooking without spices? There is also a little nostalgia when I see them because growing up, I spent summers at my grandmother’s in South Philly and we visited their shop in the Italian Market.

The owners, Tina and Anthony, owned the shop for more than 24 years, but have since moved the business to South Jersey. On this visit to the market I was thinking of making plant-based tacos, and what could be better than using their blend of spices? Buying local, family-owned and small-batch is the best when purchasing food.

You can find Grassia’s each week at the Ventnor City Farmers Market. Follow them on social media to see where you can also find them at other local farmers markets.

Next stop was Peplowski Fruit Farm for some locally grown produce including broccoli, kale and cucumbers, which I purchased for the week.

Do not forget to pick up some local peaches. They are sweet, juicy, and perfect for a summer dessert like my rustic peach galette.

I heard a customer asking if they are an organic farm. Although Peplowski Fruit Farm is not certified organic, they use IPM practices. Integrated Pest Management is a strategy that combines techniques

to control pests without using substances that could be harmful to the environment and humans. Something to ask the farmer when buying produce.

While walking a farmers market with over 75 vendors, there are so many booths where you can purchase food. The Healthy Hippo is plantbased with vegan, nut-free and gluten-free options. They offer different acai bowls topped with fresh fruit and gluten-free granola.

Their booth is a camper with a surfboard menu which has summer vibes all over it. The acai was so refreshing as I continued to stroll the market. The Healthy Hippo also hosts events at their brick and mortar location on Atlantic Avenue in Ventnor

June 26, 2025

City. This coming Friday, they will have a candle making workshop experience in collaboration with Oak and Main Candles. You can find ticket information and upcoming workshops on The Healthy Hippo Facebook page.

As I rounded the corner of the market I noticed a new vendor, The Lost Bread.

Having recently learned sourdough baking myself, I stopped to check it out.

The Lost Bread Co. is an artisan bakery and mill started in 2017, and is located on Howard Street in Philadelphia. They source organic grains locally from Pennsylvania and mill them.

The bakery specializes in whole grain baking. They have a Pretzel Shortbread that is an award winner.

It was popular with market goers Friday morning, as were the hamburger buns – perfect for a summer barbecue night. Sourdough, although not gluten free, is normally vegan made with flour, water and starter. And if you head to The Lost Bread website at www.lostbreadco.com under quick links you will find starter instructions.

A summer favorite for dinner using vegetables and herbs found at

the farmers market is my vegetable flatbread. Here is the recipe.

Roasted Veggie Flatbread

Ingredients: ● 1 small zucchini sliced into thin circles then halved ● 1 bell pepper sliced into thin strips ● 1/2 onion sliced into half moon pieces ● 1 cup tomatoes chopped ● 3 tablespoons olive oil divided ● 1 tablespoon fresh oregano chopped ● 16 ounce pizza flatbread ● 1 tablespoon fresh herbs – thyme, oregano, basil

1 cup plant-based cheese Salt to taste ● Freshly ground black pepper to taste Procedure: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Toss the sliced veggies in one tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with the herbs, salt, and pepper. Spread them out in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until tender. Top the flatbread with sauce, choice of cheese, and roasted veggies. Heat in the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and ● ●

the crust is warm. Slice the flatbread into pieces before serving.

Photos by Christina Martin Christina Martin is a dedicated chef educator, passionate advocate for healthy food, and proud mother. She shares her passion for seasonal cooking, plant-based living, and supporting local farms through both teaching and writing. Christina's plant based expertise has been spotlighted in Independent Restaurateur Magazine.

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Phillies fever heating up

By David Weinberg

P

art of the magic of baseball is its unpredictability.

The season typically features more twists than a Chubby Checker concert – fun fact: Chubby first performed “The Twist” as a 18-year-old at the Rainbow Club in Wildwood in the summer of 1960.

The latest turn of events has resulted in the Phillies overtaking the Mets in the National League East race.

In the span of just a week, the “Fightins’” went from being five and a half games out of first place to taking over the top spot with a 5-1 victory over the Mets last Sunday.

That was part of a surge that has seen the Phils post a 34-18 record in their last 52 games, the best record in the major leagues over that span.

Taking two out of three from the

Mets also marked their fourth straight series win. They have won 17 series so far this season, which is tied for the most in the first 25 series of a season in franchise history.

Probably the most impressive part of the streak is that they accomplished most of it without arguably their best player in Bryce Harper, who as of Sunday had missed the last 21 games with a wrist injury.

They’ve also been without starting pitcher Aaron Nola for the last month with a stress fracture in his right rib. Additionally, reliver Jose Alvarado is serving a 80-game suspension for violation the league’s drug policy.

“When things go great, everything’s awesome, right?” Kyle Schwarber told The Athletic. “But Bryson Stott and Max Kepler. Credit MLB. when things are going to get a little hairy, whatever it is, you really Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Ranger Sanhave to buy into each other.” chez and even rookie Mick Abel.

The mark of a good team is the Wheeler and Luzardo began the ability to withstand injuries and other week with seven victories apiece, tied absences and the Phillies have done for second in the National League behind Arizona’s Brandon Pfaat that behind Schwarber, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm and others in their lineup. (eight) and San Francisco’s Robbie Their pitching staff has also held up Ray (eight). well with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Wheeler also began the week ranked second in the National League with 118 strikeouts behind the Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore (123).

Wheeler (2.61) and Sanchez (2.87) are also among the league leaders in earned run average.

Schwarber has hit 24 home runs to rank third in the N.L. behind the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (26) and the Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suarez (25).

Turner’s 94 hits lead the N.L. Of course, it’s much too early to be thinking of the playoffs and World Series, but at 47-31 overall as of Sunday, the Phils are looking and playing like legitimate contenders along with the Dodgers (48-31), Mets (46-32), Cubs (46-31), Giants (44-34), Brewers (43-35), Padres (42-35) and Cardinals (42-36), They’ve been close before. Maybe this is the year they win the World Series for the first time since 2008.

“Come on, let’s twist again, like we did last summer. Yeah, let’s twist again, like we did last year.

“Do you remember when things were really hummin’? Yeah, let’s twist again, twistin’ time is here …”

EHT grad stars for Coastal Carolina

The Coastal Carolina University baseball team enjoyed an outstanding season, reaching the championship round of the College World Series

50

before falling to LSU at Omaha, Nebraska.

Egg Harbor Township High School graduate Cameron Flukey was a major factor in the Chanticleer’s success.

The sophomore right-hander went head-to-head against highly touted LSU sophomore lefty Kade Anderson in the first game of the final, allowing just four hits and notching nine strikeouts over six innings of a 1-0 loss.

Flukey, a 2023 EHT graduate, finished the season with a 7-2 record, including a 3.19 ERA and 118 strikeouts over 101 2/3 innings.

The 20-year-old established himself as a strong candidate to be a first-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Local MLB update

Mainland Regional High School graduate Chase Petty made his return to the majors with a relief appearance for the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday.

The 22-year-old right-hander allowed an RBI single in the 11th inning of a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Phillies called up Millville High grad Buddy Kennedy on Saturday.

The 26-year-old was a combined 0-for-1 with a walk against the Mets on Saturday and Sunday.

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.

Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.

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Entertainment & Dining at the Shore

Top Weekly Entertainment Picks

By Steffen Klenk

G

rab the sunscreen — things are heating up in South Jersey. Whether you’re heading to the beach or planning a night on the town, this week brings a full slate of exciting events, from Beachstock in Margate to concerts and fireworks in Atlantic City. Check out our top picks below, and don’t forget to browse the Wahoo section for more local happenings.

ST

I N AT I O

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r e m m Su

Margate Beachstock

Where: Huntington Avenue Beach When: Saturday, June 28 Time: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Website: www.margatehasmore. com/event/margate-beachstock The “Planet’s Biggest Beach Party” returns with a full day of fami-

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2025

ly-friendly fun. Start the morning with volleyball, cornhole, and home run derby competitions. Enjoy sand sculpting, food vendors, giveaways, a Tiki Beach Bar, and performances by local dance groups. Meet Miss New Jersey, join a kite-flying lesson, or relax to live music. The night concludes

with a beach bonfire and an outdoor screening of Moana 2.

North Beach Fireworks Spectacular

Where: Atlantic City Boardwalk (Ocean Casino to Resorts) When: Friday, June 27

NOW OPEN

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Sidestory Steppers Free Line Dancing Lessons WEDNESDAYS | JULY 2, 9 & 23 LIVE MUSIC

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F F

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Time: 9:30 p.m.

Website: www.atlanticcitynorthbeach.com North Beach Atlantic City teams up with Fireworks by Grucci for a dazzling pyrotechnics display over the ocean. Pre-show festivities include live music, drink specials, and more along the boardwalk between Resorts and Ocean Casino. Prime viewing areas will be available on the north end of the boardwalk.

Incubus

Where: Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, Atlantic City When: Friday, June 27 Time: 7 p.m.

Website: casino.hardrock.com/atlantic-city/event-calendar/incubus Chart-topping alt-rock band Incubus brings their iconic sound to the Jer-

June 26, 2025

sey Shore. Known for hits like “Drive” and “Wish You Were Here,” the group performs alongside special guests Manchester Orchestra.

Pop 2000 Tour

Where: Harrah’s Atlantic City When: Friday, June 27 Time: 9 p.m.

Website: www.caesars.com/harrahsac/shows Step into a musical time machine with the Pop 2000 Tour, featuring Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC, O-Town, BBMAK, Ryan Cabrera and LFO. Revisit the TRL era with a night full of unforgettable pop hits from the early 2000s.

Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen Where: Ocean City Music Pier

When: Monday, June 30 Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.ocnj.us/SummerConcertSeries Killer Queen, the longest-running Queen tribute band, brings the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen to life in a high-energy performance at the Music Pier in Ocean City.

Sunsets at Ski Beach

Where: Dorset and Burk Avenues, Ventnor When: Wednesdays Time: 6:30 p.m.

Website: www.ventnorcity.org/special-events

Enjoy golden hour at Ski Beach with live music, food vendors, and the waterfront setting. This week, the Derek Crider Band performs a blend of rock and country favorites.

Steffen Klenk is a photographer and multimedia journalist who enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.

You may contact Steffen at shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com.

53

Friday, June 27

Atlantic City Headliners Friday, July 11

Incubus w/ Manchester Orchestra, Paris Jackson

I Want My 80’s Tour

▶7 p.m.

▶7 p.m.

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena GQ

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena Pop 2000 Tour w/ Chris Kirkpatrick, O-Town, BBMAK, Ryan Cabrera, LFO

▶9 p.m.

▶9 p.m.

Superstar Theater at Resorts

Saturday, June 28

Saturday, July 12

The Concert Venue at Harrah’s

Def Leppard

▶8 p.m.

Catch Darius Rucker at Hard Rock on Saturday, July 12. Photo credit:Darius Rucker Facebook

▶8 p.m.

Thursday, July 3

Borgata Event Center Jackson Browne

Magical Mystery Doors

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena James Arthur w/ Kate Peytavin

▶8 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Jimmy Carr

Friday, July 4

▶8 p.m.

▶7 p.m. & 10 p.m.

The Music Box at Borgata Jake Shane

▶8 p.m.

Tropicana Showroom

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Tickets are on sale this week to see Jesse McCartney on Friday, Oct. 3 at Tropicana. Photo credit: Jesse McCartney Facebook

▶8 p.m.

Tropicana Showroom Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

Circus Maximus Theater at Caesars George Thorogood & The Destroyers

▶Fri. Sept. 12

▶7 p.m. & 10 p.m.

▶Fri. Oct. 3

Counting Crows

On Sale This Week

▶Fri. Oct. 3

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena The Disco Biscuits

▶Sat. Oct. 4

The Music Box at Borgata

▶Fri. Aug. 22

▶8 p.m.

The Music Box at Borgata

Saturday, July 5 ▶7:30 p.m.

▶4 p.m.

▶8 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena Young the Giant

▶8 p.m.

The Disco Biscuits

Sunday, June 29

The Super 70s Rock Show ft.

Super Trans Am

Darius Rucker

▶8 p.m.

The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Nurse John The Music Box at Borgata

Boyz II Men

Borgata Event Center Howie Mandel & Brad Garrett

Tropicana Showroom The Alan Parsons Live Project Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Jesse McCartney Tropicana Showroom Hanson

▶Fri. Oct. 24 & Sat. Oct. 25

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June 26, 2025

See Sam Morrow at Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk Allman Betts Band review; Balcony Cabaret at Hard Rock

Tune In, Turn On With Doug Deutsch

Last weekend exemplified why we’re so happy to live at the beach.

It’s not only because of the beautiful

summer weather and much-needed ocean breezes, it’s also the multitude of entertainment/music choices we enjoy here every week.

We attended the Balcony Cabaret at Hard Rock and the Allman Betts Band show at Borgata last Friday and Saturday; more on these later in the column.

Sam Morrow plays Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk: A rising star on the Southern rock-roots music scene is singer/songwriter guitarist

Rising roots rocker Sam Morrow will perform at Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City July 2.

Sam Morrow. His music has been described as “a mix of roadhouse rock ‘n’ roll, bluesy R&B, and country-fried funky-tonk, driven forward by groove, grease and guitars.”

Morrow, whose Southern Rockin Blues Band headlines Tony Mart Presents AC Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk Wednesday, July 2, along with special guest Willpower (Earth Wind & Fire tribute), has been creating a buzz on the tour circuit with his high-energy shows. He reminds this reviewer of a young, edgy Hank Williams.

We caught up with Morrow for an interview this past week.

DD: Let’s talk a little about your latest record, “On The Ride Here,” and why you went to Southern California to record the album?

SM: “On The Ride Here” is sort of a culmination of a trilogy of albums. All of these made in Southern California, since I lived there. All of these albums explore discovery and growing up.

Sonically, it is more rock/blues than the previous records.

DD: Noticed in your bio you grew up liking various music genres, including punk. Regarding the latter, who were some of the punk bands you liked and listened to?

SM: Black Flag, Minor Threat, TSOL. DD: What was your experience like going out on the road with the great bluesman Tab Benoit earlier this year, and how did that come to happen?

SM: Tab and his crew are all really great. It was an honor to share the stage with him every night. I even got to sit in for the last two songs, which I will never forget.

For more on Sam Morrow, visit sammorrowmusic.com; for info on AC Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk shows, visit tonymart.com.

56

Allman Betts Band rock Borgata: After experiencing a live show by Allman Betts Band last weekend at Borgata’s Music Box, it’s clear the Allman Brothers Band legacy is in great hands with this formidable group.

Fronted by Devon Allman (Gregg’s son) and Duane Betts (Dickey’s son), the seven-piece band – which included two drummers, same as the Allmans – played a two-hour-plus set, and have some great originals. The biggest applause, however, was for the three ABB songs they covered: “Midnight Rider,” “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” and “Blue Sky.” P.S. Catch Devon Allman’s Blues Summit at AC Mardi Gras Concerts at Kennedy Plaza on Aug. 20.

Balcony Cabaret debuts at Hard Rock: Took in opening night at Balcony Cabaret at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, an edgy, sexy, fun, acrobatic-style cabaret show now happening every Friday and Saturday night (three shows each night). There were six talented performers; we personally liked the evening’s erstwhile host and vocalist for the Balcony Cabaret “house” band, Robyn Adele Anderson (pictured above).

With its prime location and nice amenities, club-goers can step out on the Balcony Cabaret’s patio overlooking the ocean and sip a drink.

This interesting concept in nightclub entertainment has a good chance of catching on here in Atlantic City. Info: hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.

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 can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@ gmail.com

June 26, 2025

Square Theatres gives Ocean City the movie theater experience it deserves

By Scott Cronick

T

his may sound like a major exaggeration — and some may even considerate silly — but Brett DeNafo and his partners changed my life when they opened Square Theatres.

You might think, "Are you kidding me? They are just movie theaters.

How can that change your life?"

Well, truth be told, there is not another entertainment medium on this planet that I love more than going to see a good movie.

Before Square Theatres debuted in Stone Harbor, then Northfield and Ventnor, then Rio Grande, the South

Jersey movie-going scene was weak and limited to say the least.

The only saving grace for years was the IMAX at the Tropicana, but that was one screen. Regal Cinemas in Mays Landing, which have improved more recently, offered a lot of options, but it was dated, not well taken care of and certainly didn’t offer a memorable experience. And, before that, the experiences at the Shore Mall and other locations by Frank Theaters was ridiculously below average with sticky floors, torn screens and horrible sound.

I used to have to drive to Philadelphia or look forward to a visit to the Cinemark near my Scranton-area hometown when I visited my mother

June 26, 2025

if I wanted a great movie experience.

Square Theatres changed all of that.

All of a sudden, we have stateof-the-art sound, immaculate digital projection systems, new perfect screens, plush and sometimes reclining seating on rising tiers so no one ever obstructs your view, beautifully designed lobbies and theaters, another amazing IMAX experience, concession stands with soda machines where you can refill your drink at no extra charge and popcorn stations where you can drown your freshly popped corn with as much butter as you desire along with flavored seasonings to sprinkle over it.

These places are special!

And, now with a new theater that debuted last year in Ocean City — the Moorlyn Square Theatre — Square Theatres continue to make me and other movie lovers extraordinarily happy.

“We wanted people to have a good experience,” DeNafo said.

“We wanted them to walk into the theaters that are clean. If you go in Stone Harbor — Harbor is going to be 10 years old next year — it looks like it just opened yesterday. We get the carpets cleaned every couple of months. We make sure the seats are in good shape. We make sure the screens, the projectors … we’re always doing maintenance on our theaters all the time. And I wanted to run these places that if you walked into the theater, you felt good.”

And that, my loyal readers, is an understatement.

↘Continued on 58

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57

↘Continued from 57 Welcome to Ocean City!

When I first came to South Jersey in the mid-1990s, I lived in Ocean City on 9th Street and Ocean Avenue, a block from the Moorlyn Terrace. I would walk to the movie theater constantly despite its ridiculously awful experience. Sometimes the heater worked, sometimes it didn’t.

The same goes for the air conditioner.

And you could count on the projector breaking at least once per visit.

But, when it closed in 2017, it was a sad day. Ocean City didn’t have a movie theater anymore after decades and decades! And it stayed that way for nearly a decade.

Then Square Theatres came to the rescue in 2024, taking the former dilapidated Moorlyn Terrace theater and transforming it to the best theater Ocean City has ever had.

“We actually looked into Ocean City back in 2017 (to open a theater),” DeNafo said. “We always loved Ocean City. So, that’s why we saved the best for last, because Ocean City is really our last theater we want to do in this area.”

DeNafo, who is also in the restaurant business with dining establishments related to the Stone Harbor and Ventnor theaters along with a new restaurant in the former Santucci’s in Ventnor called Ventnor Social,

owned a Stewart’s Root Beer location on the boardwalk in the late ’90s and early 2000s. So, his heart has been in Ocean City for a very long time.

“I always loved the Ocean City boardwalk. It’s just a great boardwalk,” DeNafo said. “I just love the town, so I always wanted to do a theater there. Every city has been great to us that we have built in. They all want us to come in and do a theater.

And Ocean City, I can’t say enough about the mayor there and the town.

They are wonderful to us. They were

loving this idea of us, you know, really gutting that theater out and building a new one. No one has ever done that to this theater, even when Bruce Frank did it. They knocked half the building down, and then the other half they really didn’t remodel. So, we really came in and gutted the whole place and gave you a brand-new movie theater in there. Ocean City, because I had my first business up there, that was special to me!”

The beauty of the Moorlyn Square is that, just like Ventnor, Square The-

atre ownership was dedicated to preserving as much as they could of the original Ocean City structure from 1905 without sacrificing the modern amenities that it offers. So, you get the best movie-making experience of today combined with the nostalgia of yesteryear.

“It sat empty for all those years,” DeNafo said. “Roofs were leaking. It was a mess. But this is something interesting about all of our theaters: Tilton has the most seats, but guess what’s second?

Ocean City! We kept the same footprint there: Four theaters that hold about 800 people total.

That’s our second biggest theater.

It’s very deceiving. You walk in, and the screens are really big. They’re nice-sized auditoriums, and we could have cut them down. We could have made it so there could have been six screens in there, but we thought, ‘Let’s keep it a fourplex so the screen sizes are nice.'”

That, of course, defies what the Franks and many theater owners of the past would attempt.

“I think that was the philosophy back in the day: Let’s have as many screens as possible,” DeNafo said.

“And you walked in, and the screen

↘Continued on 60

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↘Continued from 58 size was like 10 feet. Nobody does that anymore, so we kept the footprint the way it was. So, we gutted the theaters and put all new everything in there.”

While the seats are luxe in Ocean City, they don’t recline like some of the other Square Theatres for a valid reason.

“We did that because we didn’t want to lose the capacity,” he said.

“On a rainy day, it’s important to have as many seats as possible because that’s when you make your money in Ocean City. When you go to recliners, you lose 50 to 60 percent of your capacity. At Tilton, we were able to put the recliners in because the place is so big that it didn’t really matter. We thought Ocean City was better off just putting regular seats in. And they are very nice seats … they’re rockers.

They’re like the same seats that are in our IMAX in Northfield. So, they’re leather seats. They rock back and forth. They’re very comfortable.”

But that’s not all. Ocean City offers 7.1 Dolby Atmos sound, and digital 4K projectors.

“It’s state-of-the-art sound. The screens are state-of-the-art. Projectors are state-of-the-art,” DeNafo said.

This year is the first full season for Moorlyn Square since construction

“People are so happy,” DeNafo said. “A lot of people still don’t know we’re open because we don’t have our main marquee up on the side. So, we’re putting up a huge, beautiful marquee, like our marquee in Ventnor and Harbor. It’s just not done yet.

That’s going to go up next year. And then we’re also putting a new sign up on the boardwalk. That’s going up next month.”

Moorlyn Square is located at 837 Moorlyn Terrace, Ocean City. They are open seven days a week in peak summer season, but hours change seasonally. Go to SquareTheatres. com for showtimes and more information.

wasn’t completed until the end of July.

“We really didn’t have a full summer under our belt,” DeNafo said.

“But we had a really good fall there.

It’s weird. October was OK, but then when ‘Wicked’ came out, we were packed there. We were doing Thursday through Sunday in November.

And then we did Thursday through Sunday in December. And then that last week when kids are off to school in the New Year, we stayed open that whole week in Ocean City. We did

really well. Then we shut the place down on Jan. 2, and then it closed all the way until the first week of May when we reopened. Now we are open seven days a week up until maybe like the middle of September. And then I’ll cut it back down to just weekends all the way through January.”

As expected, moviegoers are thrilled to have a theater back in Ocean City … and a beautiful one at that!

And they aren’t done making it even better.

Scott Cronick is an awardwinning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades.

He hosts a daily radio show – "Off The Press with Scott Cronick" - 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also coowns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.

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60

June 26, 2025

Fool Moon Theatre presents ‘Pippin’ this July in Margate

F

ool Moon Theatre Company will present Stephen Schwartz’s musical "Pippin" on July 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at Margate Community Church.

Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, this modern, circus-inspired version follows a young prince on a journey to discover the true meaning of glory, love and purpose. With a score by four-time Grammy and three-time Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz, "Pippin" is a dazzling blend of music, dance and theatrical magic. “'Pippin' is a magical coming-ofage story with wit, poignancy and unforgettable music,” said Director Paul Herron. “We’re thrilled to bring this classic to life with such a talented cast.”

Nick Efstatos stars as Pippin, joined by Fool Moon veterans Satya

June 26, 2025

Byers, Mike Moore, Rosanna Consalvo Sarto and Chikita Wallace. The production features choreography by Francesca Merlino, musical direction

by Rob Tucker and set design by Joe Lazarus.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m.

Sundays. Tickets are $35 general, $30 for seniors, and $25 for students at FoolMoonTheatre.org. The church is located at 8900 Ventnor Ave., Margate.

For group sales, call or text 609457-0903 or email foolmoontheatre@gmail.com.

5

61

Hard Rock’s invitation: Come to the ‘Cabaret’

The Casino File

By Chuck Darrow

H

ard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has added a new wrinkle to its already bursting-at-the-seams entertainment blueprint.

Last weekend, the Rock — which boasts Our Town’s only 365-daya-year, live-entertainment policy in addition to a heavy-hitting headliner schedule — debuted the Balcony Cabaret, a sleek, sophisticated space whose previous incarnations have included the Daer dance club.

Fridays and Saturdays this summer, a 40-minute variety show featuring a live band, burlesque-style strippers and specialty acts (think “The Burlesque Show” at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa meets “The Hook” at Caesars Atlantic City) will be staged.

But there’s more to the customer experience than simply watching

performers go through their paces.

Instead, explained the Hard Rock exec who oversees the casino’s show business end of operations, the goal is to provide guests with a unique way to spend some time at the adult playground that on Saturday celebrates its seventh anniversary.

“When we were talking about

what the summer was going to look like at Hard Rock, we realized the need for some sort of nighttime entertainment for a more refined crowd,” offered Michael Woodside, the gaming hall’s vice-president of entertainment. “We weren't really looking to open a ‘big-box’ nightclub, and we realized that sometimes, our

Lobby Bar offering might be a little much for some customers in terms of noise level.

“So, we wanted to create a fun, engaging environment where people can enjoy a cocktail and see a great show and be able to…have a conversation.”

To conjure the production, Woodside recruited veteran Atlantic City-based producer Allen Valentine, whose “The Burlesque Show” is currently in its twelfth year at Borgata.

“Alan is a great producer,” he enthused. “We know that his product is always fantastic.” But as noted above there’s more to the Balcony Cabaret experience than simply watching the various performances.

“Every Friday and Saturday, customers will have a chance to enjoy a great cabaret experience, and then they can go outside and have a handcrafted cocktail and smoke a cigar if they’d like” noted Woodside. “We wanted to create this indoor-outdoor lounge. There's nothing better than a summer night in Atlantic City overlooking Steel Pier and the Boardwalk and just being part of all that energy.

“Our goal here at Hard Rock is

↘Continued on 64

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↘Continued from 62 to provide unique and memorable entertainment experiences. And no one else in Atlantic City is providing this lounge atmosphere with the burlesque and variety show feel. We think it really fits the existing platform that we have in this building, and it's really what our customers are looking for.”

One interesting feature of the Balcony Cabaret concept is the threesets-per- evening schedule. Each time slot, offered Woodside, is designed with a different segment of the audience in mind.

“Our thought,” he said, “is that the nine- o'clock show caters to the post-dinner crowd. They can have dinner at 7 and wander upstairs to the Balcony at 9. And it's not too late, where they're staying up until one o'clock in the morning.

“The 10:30 show is really more for the post-entertainment crowd.

They're going to see a headliner in the arena and that still gives them time to get to the 10:30 show.

“And finally, the midnight show is for those looking for a nightlife experience, but not looking to turn it up to ‘level 20,’ which you would get from a headliner DJ in another nightclub.”

Woodside added that unlike a disco, whose customers tend to be in the 21-35 demographic, the Balcony

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Cabaret strategy is far more inclusive.

“We wanted to find something that's not about an older clientele or a younger clientele,” he reasoned.

“We think that this program is good for people from their early twenties until their late seventies. The music is going to be fantastic. We've got burlesque dancers, and we've got aerialists and we've got magicians.

It really is something that speaks to many generations.

“We wanted to cater to different people at different times of the night.

I think we've accomplished that.”

While Woodside raved about the show, it should be noted that the room and its adjoining, spacious al fresco hangout — the coolest Boardwalk overlook since that of the members-only Foundation Room at the long-gone House of Blues inside what was the Showboat casino — are stars in and of themselves.

Guests take a brief escalator ride (from the level below the Sound Waves theater) that deposits them at the foot of a corridor illuminated

by vertical pink neon fixtures, and which leads to the Cabaret.

The club occupies a visually arresting circular space with an elevated stage from which protrudes a runway into the art deco seating area. The back wall is outlined by a long, curving bar that completes the seductive visual milieu. The vibe is that of the kind of old-school nightclubs that were a staple of blackand-white movies of the 1930s and ‘40s.

With only one (pre-July 4) weekend under its belt, it’s far too early to gauge how Balcony Cabaret’s fortunes will play out over the next two-plus months. But Woodside is optimistic the concept might outlive the summer season.

“If this is successful, we will find a way to continue it,” he promised.

“We've already got some interest from private groups that want to use this entertainment space for their events. So, there's a good chance that it will continue past Labor Day.” Admission is limited to patrons 21 and older. For tickets, go to fp.sevenrooms.com/events/thebalconyathardrock.

Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.

June 26, 2025

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, June 26

Atlantic City Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino DJ KY 8 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget Dane Anthony 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave. Steel Pier Tiki Bar Troy Rusnack 3 – 7 p.m.

Tony Caggiano 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk The Deck at Golden Nugget B Street Band 7 & 8:45 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Austin City Nights 7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House 3AM Tokyo 6 – 10 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave. Linwood Fox Den at LCC Michael LaGuardia 6 – 10 p.m.

June 26, 2025

500 Shore Rd. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Broken Strings Duo 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Karaoke Night w/ DJ Mike 8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap Doug Jennings 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s Tommy Nic 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Fitzpatrick’s Music Bingo w/ DJ Chris 6 – 8 p.m.

650 New Rd. Gregory’s Steve Tulli 6 p.m.

900 Shore Rd. Josie Kelly’s B’Jam Band 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

908 Shore Rd. The Point Joe Grasso Duo 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave.

Hard Rock Café Incognito Band 8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino Originaire Duo 7 p.m.

Turning the Tide 10 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget Megan Knight Duo See B Street Band at The Deck at Golden Nugget on Thursday, 6 p.m.

June 28. Photo credit: bstreetband Facebook Late Last Night 10 p.m.

Friday, June 27 600 Huron Ave. Absecon Steel Pier Tiki Bar Reddog’s Hi Point Pub House Party DJ Dramadik 3 – 7 p.m.

9 p.m.

Killer B’s 5 N. Shore Rd. 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Atlantic City 1000 Boardwalk 1927 Lounge at Ocean Casino The Deck at Golden Nugget Jeremy Oren Separate Ways: Journey Tribute 5 p.m.

7 p.m. & 9:40 p.m.

Kristina Pruitt 9:15 p.m.

Completely Unchained: Van Halen 500 Boardwalk Tribute Council Oak at Hard Rock 8:20 p.m. & 11:10 p.m.

ESQ Trio 600 Huron Ave. 7 – 11 p.m. ↘Continued on 66 1000 Boardwalk

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↘Continued from 65 The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Dane Anthony Band 5 – 8:30 p.m.

Daddy Pop 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk Villain and Saint at Ocean Casino Naked Nation 8:30 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House Goody Blue Shoes 6 – 10 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave. Cape May Harpoons on the Bay The Greg Farnese Quartet 6 – 10 p.m.

91 Beach Dr. Egg Harbor Township The Roost Pub & Grill Tony, Taylor & Al 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

500 St. Andrews Dr. Galloway 279 Social Bobby Williams Duo 7 – 10 p.m.

279 S. New York Rd. Linwood Fox Den at LCC Brian McConnell 6 – 10 p.m.

500 Shore Rd.

FREE EVRY FRIDAY 7pm

Margate Bocca Debra Jacobs 7 – 10 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave. Memories My Hero Zero 7 p.m.

9518 Amherst Ave. Smithville Fred & Ethel’s Lantern Light Tim McGlynn 7 – 10 p.m.

1 New York Rd. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Brandon Ireland Band 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap Doug Jennings 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s One Hot Mess 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Fitzpatrick’s Glen Eric Sarkis 5 – 8 p.m.

650 New Rd. Josie Kelly’s Big Daddy Duo 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

908 Shore Rd.

The Point White Wedding 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave. Tuckerton The Lizzie Rose Music Room Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials 7:30 p.m.

217 E. Main St.

Saturday, June 28

Absecon Reddog’s Hi Point Pub Rich Cassenti Band 9 p.m.

5 N. Shore Rd. Atlantic City 1927 Lounge at Ocean Casino Steven Luhmann 5 p.m.

Kristina Pruitt 9:15 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Anchor Rock Club Verses of the Bleeding 7:30 p.m.

247 S. New York Ave. Bar One at Resorts DJ Gary. 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.

1133 Boardwalk Council Oak at Hard Rock Ryan Tennis Trio 7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk Hard Rock Café Sky City Social

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino Dan Jost Duo 7 p.m.

Steal the Sky 10 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget Camille K Band 5 p.m.

Rock N’ Radio 10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. Steel Pier Tiki Bar Teddi Fusco 3 – 7 p.m.

No Clue Duo 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk The Deck at Golden Nugget Winslow: Eagles Tribute 1:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.

High Noon: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute 3:10 p.m. & 8:35 p.m.

Back in Black: AC/DC Tribute 4:50 p.m. & 10:10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Grooveheart 5 – 8:30 p.m.

Turning the Tide 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk

↘Continued on 68

TONY MART PRESENTS LEGACY CONCERTS ON THE BEACH IN SOMERS POINT

The Tony Mart Allstars with Guest Stars to be announced Our 32nd Season

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Tony Mart Cares gives back to musicians in need

Location changes due to inclement weather will be posted on Tony Mart Presents Facebook/ Instagram page.

June 26, 2025

↘Continued from 66 Villain and Saint at Ocean Casino Ballistic Berry 8:30 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Wyndham Skyline Tower Magic Comedy Hour feat. Joe Holiday 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.

100 S. North Carolina Ave. Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House Yanni 1 – 5 p.m.

Fat Mezz 6 – 10 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave. Cape May Harry’s Ocean Bar Grille The Greg Farnese Quartet 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

1025 Beach Ave. Egg Harbor City Renault Winery John King 12 – 4 p.m.

72 N. Bremen Ave. Egg Harbor Township EHT Vagabond Johnny Rey from The Voice 6 p.m.

3016 Ocean Heights Ave. Galloway 279 Social Kenny Curcio Duo 7 – 10 p.m.

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279 S. New York Rd. Linwood Fox Den at LCC Escape Plan 6 – 10 p.m.

500 Shore Rd. Margate Beachstock Mas Tequila Orchestra 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Nikki Briar 4:30 – 6 p.m.

NJ British Invasion 8:30 – 10 p.m.

Huntington Ave. Beach Bocca Petty Cash 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave. Memories Jason Weiss 10 p.m.

9518 Amherst Ave. Tideline Bar None Duo 1 p.m.

9317 Amherst Ave. Smithville Fred & Ethel’s Lantern Light Tom & Sara 7 – 10 p.m.

1 New York Rd. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Dr. Phil & The Heart Attacks 4 – 8 p.m.

Radio Revolution 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap Doug Jennings 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s Jay Gentile 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Fitzpatrick’s Phil Stocker 5 – 8 p.m.

650 New Rd. Josie Kelly’s Twisted Livin’ 9 p.m.

908 Shore Rd. The Point Animal House 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave. Tuckerton The Lizzie Rose Music Room Eliot Lewis. 7:30 p.m.

217 E. Main St. Ventnor Ventnor Coffee Open Mic. 6 – 9 p.m.

108 N. Dorset Ave.

Sunday, June 29 Atlantic City Council Oak at Hard Rock E. Shawn Qaissaunee

6 – 10 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino Steven Luhmann & Jeremy Oren 8 p.m.

500 Boardwalk Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget Jexxa Duo. 7 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. Steel Pier Tiki Bar Troy Rusnack 3 – 7 p.m.

Bar None 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk The Deck at Golden Nugget Refugee: Tom Petty Tribute 1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Crystal Ship: Doors Tribute 2:50 p.m. & 8:35 p.m.

Black Dog: Led Zeppelin Tribute 4:40 p.m. & 10:10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Audio Riot 4 – 7:30 p.m.

Sean Patrick & The Alibis 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House Incognito 1 – 5 p.m.

Dear Zoe 5 – 9 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave.

June 26, 2025

Mas Tequila Orchestra will be at Beachstock 2025. Photo credit: Mas Tequila Orchestra Facebook Egg Harbor City Renault Winery John King 12 – 4 p.m.

72 N. Bremen Ave. Galloway 279 Social Evan Emerle 12 – 3 p.m.

279 S. New York Rd. Margate Memories DJ Joel Stephens 6 p.m.

9518 Amherst Ave. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Yachtzee Band 4 – 8 p.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap Doug Jennings 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s Bob Mower & Glen Eric 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Gregory’s Backyard Bar May Day 6 p.m.

900 Shore Rd. The Point The Verdict 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave.

Monday, June 30

Atlantic City Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget Isn’t it Always Trio 7 – 11 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. Steel Pier Tiki Bar Teddi Fusco 3 – 7 p.m.

Bar None 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk The Deck at Golden Nugget Red 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

June 26, 2025

Bob Mower 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s Jeff X 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway The Point Mike Carney 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave.

600 Huron Ave. The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Sidestory 7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House Adam and Min 6 – 10 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Trivia Night with DJ Bill 7 – 9 p.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap Lew London &

600 Huron Ave. Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House The Company 6 – 10 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave. Margate Memories Radio Revolution Duo 8 p.m.

9518 Amherst Ave. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Michael LaGuardia 4 – 7 p.m.

Open Mic Night hosted by Blue Eagle 7:30 – 11:30 p.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap Lew London & Bob Mower 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s Haley & Timmy 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Josie Kelly’s Jimmy Brogan 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

908 Shore Rd. The Point Rob McMahon 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave. Events subject to change.

Tuesday, July 1

Atlantic City Steel Pier Tiki Bar Tony Caggiano 3 – 7 p.m.

Bar None 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk The Deck at Golden Nugget DJ Johnny Looch 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

600 Huron Ave. Brigantine LaScala’s Beach House The Lenahan Band 6 – 10 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave. Somers Point Caroline’s by the Bay Music Bingo hosted by DJ Chris 7 – 9 p.m.

450 Bay Ave. Crab Trap 2 Old Friends 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway Crabby Jack’s Tropical Tuesday Steel Drums 6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway The Point Shauny Mac 6 – 10 p.m.

998 Bay Ave.

Wednesday, July 2 Atlantic City The Deck at Golden Nugget Hawkins Road 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

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T

Mocktail competition highlights HERO Campaign’s 25th anniversary

his summer and fall, the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign will hold a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of the nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing drunk driving in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott and all victims of DUI. From July through October, the campaign will invite the public to vote for their favorite non-alcoholic beverages during the third Great HEROtini Mocktail Challenge. The competition, featuring 20 popular bars in and around Atlantic City, will showcase creative mocktails prepared by local bartenders — with names like “Cherry NOjito” and “No Buzzz Colada.”

A kickoff tasting event featuring mocktails from eight bars, taverns and casinos will be held Tuesday, July 1, from noon to 2 p.m. on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in front of the Tropicana Pavilion. HERO Patrol cars from several area police departments, featuring the campaign’s signature slogan — “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver” — will also be on display.

The winning bar, determined by the highest amount of donations

raised throughout the contest, will receive the coveted HEROtini Cup trophy and a trip to a 2026 Phillies game with a celebration in the ARAMARK Suite. One participating voter will be randomly selected to attend the game as well.

“The HEROtini mocktail contest is a fun way for customers to support their favorite bars and have a chance to see a Phillies game next season in the fabulous ARAMARK Suite,” said HERO Campaign Chairman Bill Elliott, who co-founded the campaign with his wife, Muriel, following the tragic death of their son John in a July 2000 crash caused by a drunken driver.

The campaign will also host HEROtini Happy Hour receptions at participating bars throughout the summer and fall. Attendees will be invited to sample and vote on each bar’s contest entry. “It’s a fun way to make an important point,” Elliott said. “Designated drivers save lives — and can still be part of the party.” He added that being a designated driver is now widely recognized as “cool” and the real “life of the party.”

Good Food!

Good Service!

Good Prices!

On Tuesday, July 22, the campaign will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Ensign Elliott’s death with a ceremony in Salem County. The event will include the unveiling of the 30th HERO Police Patrol vehicle at the Salem County Sheriff’s Office, 135 Cemetery Road in Woodstown.

Officers from 25 police departments across South Jersey will form a HERO Patrol procession to a wreath-laying ceremony at the roadside memorial marking where Elliott lost his life — at the intersection of Route 40 and Slabtown Road in Upper Pittsgrove Township.

On Sunday, Oct. 19, the 14th annual HERO Walk and one-mile fun

run will take place on the Ocean City Boardwalk, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Sixth Street Civic Center. A memory banner featuring photos of DUI victims will also be dedicated.

At the time of his death, Ensign Elliott had just graduated near the top of his class at the U.S. Naval Academy and was driving home to Egg Harbor Township for his mother’s birthday. The driver who killed him had been arrested for DUI earlier that night and released to a friend who allowed him to drive again while still intoxicated. The tragedy led to the passage of John’s Law in New Jersey in 2001, requiring police to impound vehicles of those arrested for DUI for 12 hours and to issue written warnings to those picking them up during that period. According to New Jersey State Police, more than 20,000 vehicles are impounded annually under John’s Law. Funds raised by the HERO Campaign, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, support billboard messaging, school and college education programs, designated driver recruitment at NFL and MLB stadiums, and the HERO police cruisers wrapped with the campaign’s message: “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.”

For more information, visit www. herocampaign.org.

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June 26, 2025

“

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upcoming shows

JUNE 22

July 11-13

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738 BAY AVENUE | SOMERS POINT, NJ

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The Queen of Somers Point: Queen Jayne’s continues to serve up cocktails and charisma

By Delaney Crawford

S

ince opening its doors in May 2023, Queen Jayne’s in Somers Point has quickly become a standout in the Shore’s nightlife scene. With its eclectic style, chic lighting, plush seating, elevated menu and magnetic vibe, the cocktail lounge offers guests a fresh take on upscale nightlife— without losing the cozy familiarity of a beloved local hangout.

Tucked into a shopping center and accessible through a striking purple door, Queen Jayne’s has an almost speakeasy-style feel. But once you step inside, you’re transported. It feels as if you’ve left Somers Point behind and landed in New York City.

“Founder Michael Bray saw a need in the community for an upscale place to get a great cocktail or exquisite glass of wine without having to travel into Atlantic City or beyond. As it neared completion, he was inspired to name it after his mom, who sadly passed away from MS. They had always called her ‘Queen Jayne,’ referencing the Bob Dylan song ‘Queen Jane Approximately,’” the Queen Jayne’s team said.

With just a few tables and bar seats, the space is intimate by design.

It’s the kind of place where you can show up alone and leave with friends.

The team’s mission is to create an atmosphere of warmth, hospitality and connection, always making guests feel like they're among friends—just with the added luxury of someone keeping your glass full and your plate ready.

“Queen Jayne’s takes a lot of inspiration from the modern era of craft cocktails that has existed in major cities for almost 30 years,” the team explained. “With a beverage prep list of 40 house-made ingredients and a laser focus on genuine hospitality, we aim to show South Jersey that you don't need to travel to Philly or NYC to have a top-tier experience.

With our latest menu, we've taken it a step further, combining beautiful artwork with inspired food and drink pairings to encourage our guests to slow down just a bit to really savor the moment.”

Choosing just one drink can be a challenge. The Queen Jayne’s Cosmo has reigned supreme as the top seller since the bar opened—and for good reason. But since their latest menu

update in May, the Quetzalcoatl cocktail has quickly risen to fan-favorite status. The Cosmo, though, remains the signature cocktail and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Hungry? The Bacon & Brie Grilled Cheese is the most popular menu item—so popular, in fact, that groups often order three or four at a time while hanging out at the bar.

Looking for a perfect pairing?

Queen Jayne’s has thought of that, too. “Our entire Catalyst section consists of 10 cocktails with intentionally designed recommended food pairings inspired by a ‘catalyst’—someone or something we consider to be a major agent of change.”

Along with its stylish atmosphere and stellar menu, Queen Jayne’s keeps things exciting with seasonal pop-ups and special events. Their “Frosted Crown” winter wonderland was a hit during the holidays, while “The Royal Rose” offered a more low-key, food-focused Valentine’s Day experience. They’ve also hosted single-night events like “Gin-Tiki”

with Natasha Bahrami of The Gin Room in St. Louis.

“Coming up, we're thrilled to announce our Tiki Disco pop-up!

Beginning in August, this one will be a super fun mash-up of Tiki-style drinks, food and decor while harking back to the Disco era of cocktails and vibe. This one will be a bit more like the Frosted Crown where, for a little over a month, you'll feel like you've walked into a completely different space,” the team shared.

Queen Jayne’s is open Wednesday through Saturday. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Their happy hour, served from 4 to 6 p.m. each day they’re open, offers major appeal with $5 margaritas, house white and red wine, snacks, and Queen Jayne’s own hibiscus pilsner.

The Queen Jayne’s team is always looking forward. “Onward and upward” is the motto, with plans in the works for a big closeout bash the second weekend in September, a new pop-up event before the return of Frosted Crown, and updates like new signage and refreshed uniforms.

“We're hoping to capture the attention of those traveling from Philly and North Jersey via Ocean City.

We're so close to the dry-town shore destination and will be doing some on-the-ground promotion to let all of our seasonal guests know we're here and excited to serve them,” the team said. “For now, we are just so grateful to all of our guests and hope we can continue to improve and make every single person feel better than when they arrived.”

June 26, 2025

Abbott and Costello: Steel Pier made them stars

By Bruce Klauber

A

tlantic City’s Steel Pier, in the many years it presented big-name entertainment, never really “made” a star. The reality is that the stars “made” the Steel Pier into the venue known for many years as “the showplace of the nation.” There was one exception: The comedy team of Abbott and Costello.

Those who have never heard of Abbott and Costello probably have no idea just how big the comedy team was, but in the years of their existence as a team, roughly 1935 to 1957, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were stars on stage, on radio, on television and in 36 motion pictures that earned, in today’s dollars, $2.58 billion. That’s right, billion.

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The team, like many other comics at the time, came out of burlesque. At first they worked the lesser burlesque houses, including a venue in New York City where they teamed up called the Eltinge Theatre on 42nd Street, later renamed the Empire Theatre.

After some success there, they began working for Minskys’ Burlesque, considered several steps up the showbiz ladder from the Eltinge. Brothers Abe and Billy Minsky had a goal of making burlesque respectable.

A big move toward that goal was Minskys’ leasing of the Republic Theatre on 42nd Street. The Republic, at one time, presented legitimate Broadway shows until it closed around 1931. The Minsky burlesque empire eventually grew to about 12 theaters. Among the comics who appeared in Minskys’ burlesque revues were Phil Silvers, Red Buttons, Danny Kaye, Jack Albertson, Gypsy Rose Lee, Red Skelton and Abbott and Costello.

Though the Minskys were presenting respectable shows, the word “burlesque” still had a risqué connotation that drew the attention

of then-New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who directed his L&I man to revoke Minskys’ licenses saying his shows violated “moral decency” codes.

Though New York City lost the case, Abbott and Costello were concerned about their future in the Minsky organization, believing that the raids, and the accusations – to say nothing of the reputation of burlesque – would only get worse.

On one fateful evening at the Republic, one of those who caught the team’s act was Frank Elliott, who

happened to be one of the talent managers at the Steel Pier. He loved the team and hooked them up with booking agent Eddie Sherman, who in turn made a deal with Steel Pier owner Frank Gravatt to perform in Atlantic City. They did well at the Pier in the summer of 1936. Although reviews for their part in a 1937 variety revue away from the Pier, something called “Ship Ahoy,” were not great, Bud and Lou were singled out for the comedic talents.

Word spread about the team, and while working at Loew’s Theatre in New York City, they came to the attention of Ted Collins, manager of singer Kate Smith, who was a major radio star at the time. Their appearances with Smith were a hit in 1938, and because of that, the Pier wanted them back that summer. When they returned in 1941, the year that their first motion picture, “One Night in the Tropics,” was released, the reception they received in Atlantic City was gigantic.

It’s been said that thousands of fans came out to see the team, and it certainly helped that the Pier’s Frank

June 26, 2025

Gravatt had three, 24-foot signs installed outside of the Pier that advertised Abbott and Costello’s performances.

The following year, the Pier promoted the premiere of the team’s next film, “Hold that Ghost.” Gravatt’s ballyhoo included putting together what the Pier called a “ghost ball,” whereby all attendees were required to dress up as ghosts. In 1942, the team visited the Pier again on Labor Day weekend as part of their national War Bond Drive tour, which ultimately raised $80 million for the US effort in World War II. The team made two more brief appearances in Atlantic City. By 1944, they were among the biggest movie stars in the business, and, though the Pier certainly wanted to book them that season, Frank Elliott was con-

cerned about how much money they wanted. Elliott needn’t have worried.

As a way of showing their gratitude to Elliott for getting them started at the Pier, the team only asked the Pier for one dollar in payment.

In 1945, the year of the final appearance in Atlantic City, as a part of a fundraising tour for the Lou Costello, Jr. Youth Foundation, the team again drew record crowds to

the Pier. They also took the time to visit wounded soldiers at the Haddon Hall Hotel, which was actually used as an Army hospital during the war.

After 1945, Abbott and Costello remained tremendously popular and made many more films until they dissolved their partnership in 1957.

But the team was gradually overtaken in the popularity sweepstakes in films, on television and in personal appearances by the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, a younger and hipper team who made their Atlantic City debut in 1945 at the 500 Club, the same year that Abbott and Costello made their final Steel Pier appearance.

Jeff Solimando, an Abbott and Costello fan who writes a detailed blog about the team, summed up the team’s relationship with Atlantic City, writing, “Atlantic City may not have ‘made’ Abbott and Costello, but you can't help but wonder what would have happened if the stars aligned differently. Thankfully, they chose to see it through.”

Comedy Bits: Veteran comic, singer and entertainment industry trailblazer Charlie Prose, profiled in these pages not long ago, recently returned to the “Helping Hands” telethon that he starred in for 27 years.

“Helping Hands,” a part of Easter Seals, has helped children in Hazleton, Pa. for more than four decades.

“This is my first public appearance since I retired 17 years ago,” Prose said. Though he didn’t perform, saying, “I just want to

come up and say hello to folks.” He did make his children’s book, “Little Charlie and the TU-TA Roo Band,” available as a part of the fundraiser.

Prose, an integral part of Atlantic City’s entertainment landscape in the 1980s and 1990s, will turn 80 years old on July 2.

Bruce Klauber is the author of four books, an award-winning music journalist, concert and record producer and publicist, producer of the Warner Brothers and Hudson Music "Jazz Legends" film series, and performs both as a drummer and vocalist.

The New Talk of the Town!

“Excellent Food” “Friendly Service” “Great Healthy Options” “We’ll be Back!”

Open for Breakfast & Lunch Deli – Catering - Dine In - Takeout – Delivery Outdoor Seating Center Point Plaza, Northfield Tilton Road & Route 9 (609) 380-4937 Closed Monday

June 26, 2025

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Try these red wines for summer Drink Up!

By David Setley

H

appy Summer at the Jersey Shore! Summer officially comes to the northern hemisphere on the day of the summer solstice, which occurred on June 20. When you think of summer wines, you likely picture rosés or light white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Although those wines certainly have a place at your summer events, let’s explore some of the red wines that also deserve a place on your shopping list.

For many, summer means grilling season. Grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables can be overwhelmed by heavy red wines or those with higher tannins. However, lighter and medium-body reds can do very well with a summer menu. Consider the Sincronia Negra Mesquida Mora from the island of Majorca in the Balearic

Island of Spain. This red blend is comprised of Callet, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sincronia is a dry red with more subtle tannins than you may find in heavier wines. The flavor profile is the fruit of red and black raspberries with just a touch of peppery spice.

The label depicts an island theme with a colorful lighthouse and a seabird flying by. Check this one out as a great wine for summer grilling.

Another great Spanish red for summer is Garnacha. Garnacha is a widely planted red grape from the Calatayud region of Spain. Try the Breca Breca Garnacha made from 100% Garnacha de Aragon, the world’s oldest clone of this grape.

This dry red wine features ripe red fruit flavors with notes of citrus and spice. It’s perfect for your next grilling adventure.

A summer red option from France is the L. Tramier & Fils Moulin-a-Vent from the Beaujolais. I have written about my love of Gamay wines in previous articles, as it is a varietal that is

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extremely underrated but worthy of your consideration. There is more to Beaujolais wines than the Thanksgiving Beaujolais Nouveau! The lighter body and acidity of this Moulin-a-Vent Gamay is similar to Pinot Noir, but is a bit smoother and a touch fruitier. The aroma has tones of dark fruit, violets, and soil. The flavor is currents and black raspberries with that distinctive French earthiness. The tannins are relatively light, allowing this wine to pair well with anything from salmon or tuna to chicken, pork, or grilled or roasted vegetables. Another outstanding region of Beaujolais is Fleurie. Try the Arnaud Combier Fleurie. The flavors of this Gamay wine are darker and richer than other Beaujolais wines, making a great pairing for grilled steaks and other red meats.

Pinot Noir is also an excellent summer choice. Bourgogne, or Burgundy if you prefer, is the birthplace of this noble grape. Vincent Girardin is an excellent winemaker from this region, and his Girardin Bourgogne St. Vincent Rouge is a great demonstration of his skill. Pinot Noir may be the most versatile of red wines and pairs well with poultry, lamb, duck, beef, and even fish, such as salmon or tuna.

Another great region for Pinot Noir is Sonoma, California. Winemaker Joel Gott’s new ERSOL Pinot Noir is a perfect example. The tannins are rich but soft, with the flavor of red cherries, raspberries, and notes of black tea and baking spices. The fruit flavors are balanced with earthy soil notes.

The Russian River Valley of Sonoma is also famous for its awesome Pinot Noir wines. The Balletto Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a perfect example. Velvety dark fruit flavors balanced with light tannins and a light acidity make this one of the best Pinot Noir wines in its price range.

The great red grape of Sicily is the Nero D’Avola. Allumea Wineries blend 70% Nero D’Avola with 30%

Merlot to make one of the best pizza/pasta wines.

This dry wine is made with organic grapes and is very reasonably priced. The flavor is a wonderful mix of ripe cherries, red berries, and blueberries with a touch of baking spices and leather. The finish is long and stands up to flavorful dishes, such as chicken parmesan or lasagna, as well as traditional spaghetti and meatballs.

Or try the La Gerla Poggio gli Angeli Sangiovese made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso from the Montalcino region of Tuscany. La Gerla is considered one of the top Brunello producers in the Montalcino region, and they make this Sangiovese from the younger organic vines in these vineyards. This complex wine features flavors of red raspberries, currents, pomegranate, and red cherries with a hint of tobacco leaf and baking spices. It's great for your summer evening dinner or for the best summer activity: porch-sitting.

My final recommendation for summer red wines comes from one of California’s most well-respected wineries. In my opinion, the two best red grapes produced in the Golden State are Zinfandel (the red variety, not White Zinfandel) and Petite Sirah.

The Frog’s Leap Flycatcher California Red Wine is a blend of these two awesome grapes, along with a smidge of a few others added in to round out this summer blockbuster. This is a chillable red wine recommended to be served at about 55 degrees. It is very dry, though with a fruitiness that comes from the Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. This is balanced with the savory depth of Tempranillo and the soft, well-rounded personality of Merlot and Cinsault. This is winemaking artistry at its summertime best. You will be surprised at how complex yet approachable a chilled red wine can be. It is not a sweet wine! It is a dry wine with great fruity notes. This is my top new pick for your summer enjoyment.

There are great red wines for you to enjoy in the warm summer months.

As always, contact me with any questions at dsetley@passionvines.com or stop in the store. Until next time, use sunblock and happy wining!

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

June 26, 2025

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On Saturday, June 28, see Def Leppard at Borgata. Photo credit: Def Leppard Facebook

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Saturday, June 28

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Superstar Theater at Resorts

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Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena James Arthur w/ Kate Peytavin

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Darius Rucker

Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena Young the Giant Tropicana Showroom Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Jimmy Carr

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The Music Box at Borgata Jake Shane

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Tropicana Showroom

Sunday, June 29

The Super 70s Rock Show ft.

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Circus Maximus Theater at Caesars George Thorogood & The Destroyers

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rigantine’s beloved summer tradition, Night in Venice, returns Saturday, Aug. 9, with a festive new theme: Luau on the Bay. Organized by the community group Real Brigantine, the annual boat parade invites residents and visitors to embrace the island spirit with tiki torches, hula skirts, and tropical décor lining the bayfront.

Now in its fourth year, Brigantine’s Night in Venice was inspired by Ocean City’s long-running event.

Each year has brought a unique theme, from “Honoring Our Heroes” in 2021 to last year’s “Light it Up.” The event has quickly become a seasonal highlight, bringing neighbors together to decorate boats and homes in a joyful display of community pride.

This year’s theme encourages Hawaiian feasts, backyard luaus, and boat crews decked out in tropical style. Participants are invited to register their homes or boats to be part of the celebration and to compete for top honors in the judging.

The event is made possible thanks to the support of generous local sponsors, including Tennessee Beer Hall, Andre’s Wine Bar & Grill, Cordivari’s Restaurant, The Cove, Ernest &

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Son Old-Fashioned Butcher Shoppe, Casale al Mare, Crab Shack Seafood Restaurant, Berkshire Hathaway Brigantine LePera Team, Ashore Realty Inc., and Cusamano Builders Inc.

To register a boat, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/ d/e/1FAIpQLSc0F_ye4rYtAixAT5MDkwrfrXaS5eixnh_lT0dUYNZpdSbq6g/viewform To register a home, visit: h t t p s : //d o c s . g o o g l e . c o m / forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6ej3Ls29NpbO2dbXXukkNRsQx4giuXfufwXYbOuPnwBp-sA/viewform Mark your calendars and get ready to hula — Brigantine’s Night in Venice is set to be an unforgettable evening of tropical flair and community celebration.

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Free summer concerts bring the funk, rock and party vibes to the shore

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ick off the summer with a lineup of high-energy, free concerts on the beach and boardwalk in Atlantic City and Somers Point.

Dead Zep brings its unique blend of Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin hits to the Somers Point Beach this Friday, June 27, delivering a world- Sam Morrow class rock jam that’s sure to get the crowd moving.

Then on Wednesday, July 2, it’s a double-header at Mardi Gras on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The funky 11-piece band Will Power hits the stage at 7 p.m., performing a tribute to the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire.

At 8:30 p.m., the Sam Morrow Band, a rising Nashville favorite, delivers a soulful, Southern blues-rock set with music from Little Feat, The Band, the Allman Brothers and more.

And don’t miss an unforgettable Fourth of July celebration in Somers Point, as one of the top party bands in the Northeast, Dane Anthony, performs all your favorite dance and classic rock hits. The concert coincides with Ocean City’s fireworks display, which can be viewed across the bay from the beach — a magical setting for an evening of music and celebration.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

Let the good times roll!

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Dane Anthony. Photo by John Loreaux For more information, visit www. tonymart.com, follow on Facebook at Tony Mart Presents, or on Instagram @tonymartpresents.

June 26, 2025

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Keep your cool this summer with tips from Jenkins and Sons

By Delaney Crawford

A

s the summer temperatures rise, so do the demands on your home’s air conditioning and plumbing systems. Whether you're a longtime homeowner or preparing your vacation home for the season, staying ahead of potential issues is key to a comfortable, hassle-free summer, so you can simply sit back and enjoy the breeze.

Jenkins and Sons Plumbing & Heating, a South Jersey family business that has been around since 1949, knows all the tips and tricks to ensure your house stays cool as the outside air temperatures continue to rise.

According to the experts at Jenkins and Sons Plumbing and Heating, one of the best ways to ensure your air conditioning system runs smoothly all season long is by starting with a professional tune-up.

“We offer full-system checkups that go above and beyond,” explains Jeff Jenkins Jr., the third-generation owner of Jenkins and Sons.

“We clean the outside unit, clean the coils, check all electrical components, and clean indoor parts as well. We even fire up the system and

check its performance before we leave so that we’re fully confident and know it’s ready for the summer.”

Their technicians are trained to spot potential issues before they become big problems. If something seems off, or if a unit is aging, they’ll provide honest recommendations to keep you cool and comfortable for the whole season without unexpected breakdowns.

There are also small steps homeowners can take themselves.

“Change your air filters regularly — monthly if needed,” Jenkins advises. “And try to keep the hot and humid outside air from entering your home.”

Now that you have those simple tasks and tips to ensure your home stays cool, let’s talk about plumbing.

Summer humidity can lead to sweating pipes and damp crawl spaces.

Jenkins states that it is incredibly important through the summer months to try and control the humidity and temperature in those spaces. They suggest getting various pipes insulated to avoid the dripping that can eventually cause puddles and water damage in the crawl spaces and your home.

“Insulating your pipes and monitoring humidity levels can help pro-

tect your home,” Jenkins said.

And here’s one more tip Jenkins emphasized: Don’t wait until August to make a repair. If your system makes a strange noise or just isn’t performing well, call early. The earlier you act, the less likely you’ll be caught sweating it out in peak season.

The Jenkins legacy

Jenkins and Sons Plumbing & Heating isn’t just a local business; they’re part of the community.

Founded in 1949 by John Jenkins Sr. after returning from military service, the company started in Pleasantville and has been proudly serving Atlantic and Cape May counties ever since.

John Jenkins Sr. eventually passed the business down to his two sons, Jeffery Jenkins Sr. and John Jenkins Jr. This brother duo continued to run the business until they eventually retired and passed it on as well.

Today, Jeffery Jenkins Jr. continues the legacy as the third-generation Jenkin in charge. Like the generations before him, Jeff Jr. began his career within the family business in the field. He went through various roles, learning every aspect of the work before moving into a leadership

position and eventually taking over the business completely.

“It’s important to understand every part of your business, because it is your business,” Jenkins says.

That attention to detail and pride in craftsmanship is part of what sets Jenkins apart. For decades, they’ve been known for doing it all. Between plumbing, heating, air conditioning, drain cleaning, installation, and even sheet metal work, they aim to live up to their motto, “One call does it all.”

“Each technician focuses on a specific area — whether it's repairs, installations, or plumbing. That means when we send someone out, they’re an expert in what they’re doing,” says Jenkins. “It’s not a jack-ofall-trades setup. It’s about delivering high-quality work every time.”

With a full-service local shop open Monday through Friday and a 24-hour emergency answering service, Jenkins and Sons is built for convenience and trust. You can even stop by the facility and speak directly with staff.

“We’re local, we live here, and we work here,” Jenkins says. “We don’t shy away from jobs because they’re too big or too small. Every customer matters.”

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Leadership that lasts: Margate summer resident’s new book

By Delaney Crawford

I

n a world where leadership is often paired with titles, power, or spotlight moments, Dr. Philip A. Iannuzzi, Jr. is offering something different and lasting. The retired U.S. Air Force colonel, aerospace industry veteran, and longtime summer resident of Margate recently released a new book: “Leadership Excellence: Empower Your Leadership with The Model for Sustained Leadership Success.”

The book, independently published by Bunker Hollow Press, draws from Iannuzzi’s more than four decades of leadership across military, corporate, and academic sectors.

But for Iannuzzi, the journey started much earlier and much closer to home.

Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Phil grew up in a close-knit, hardworking family. His mother helped her parents sell produce on 9th Street, and his grandfather’s

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It was there, along the South Jersey shoreline, where Phil’s leadership journey began.

↘Continued on 89

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What is the Tiffany Plate?

A colorful, nutrient-packed meal that promotes mindful eating

By Rachel King

T

he Tiffany Plate is a vibrant, deconstructed meal popularized by TikTok influencer Tiffany Magee. It features a visually appealing arrangement of whole foods—typically raw or lightly cooked vegetables, fresh fruits, protein sources like chicken sausage or cottage cheese (often topped with mustard), and optional add-ons such as hearts of palm, okra, dragon fruit, almonds or Babybel cheese.

Magee, who adopted an anti-inflammatory approach to eating after a Lyme disease diagnosis, refers to the plate as part of her “healing” lifestyle. Her goal is to feel energized, light and free of bloating by avoiding heavy starches.

Potential benefits

1. Nutrient-dense and low-calorie Packed with vitamins, fiber and hydration from fresh produce, the Tiffany

88

Plate contains minimal refined sugars and additives.

2. Customizable and fun TikTok users love the plate’s flexibility—choose your favorite fruits, veggies, proteins and fats.

3. Aesthetic and mindful Artful plating turns meals into intentional, satisfying experiences that go beyond taste.

4. Encourages veggie intake It promotes eating a variety of colorful produce, supporting digestive health and antioxidant intake.

One Reddit user commented: “The Tiffany Plate is basically the same as the healthy eating plate… the main benefit comes from introducing fruits and vegetables as the majority of the plate.”

How to build your own Tiffany Plate

Start with half produce Fill half your plate with raw or lightly steamed vegetables (such as carrots, cucumber, broccoli or okra) and seasonal fruits.

Add a protein Include one chicken sausage, a hardboiled egg, a serving of cottage cheese with mustard or a Babybel cheese round.

Incorporate healthy fats Sprinkle in almonds or olives, or drizzle with a bit of olive oil.

Optional carbs For extra satiety, add a small portion of quinoa, brown rice or hummus.

Mindful eating and fun prep

Creative process Arranging food by color and texture can feel like art therapy in the kitchen.

Satisfying textures Crisp veggies, creamy cheese, juicy fruit and tangy mustard create a mix of flavors and sensations.

Encourages gratitude Thoughtful plating can slow you down and promote mindful, grateful eating.

Social and shareable This TikTok-friendly plate is perfect for solo meals or sharing with friends.

Portion and balance tips ● ●

●

Protein goals: Aim for 20–30 grams of protein per plate.

Fat moderation: Include about 1–2 tablespoons of healthy fat (nuts or oil).

Watch sodium: Cottage cheese, mustard and sausage can be high in sodi-

●

um—look for lower-sodium versions.

Stay flexible: The Tiffany Plate is a tool—not a rule. Perfection isn’t the goal.

Bottom line

The Tiffany Plate is a bright, fun and health-forward way to boost your fruit and veggie intake while making meals more intentional. Add protein, healthy fats and optional carbs as needed—and enjoy the process. It’s meal prep meets mindful eating, designed to energize both your plate and your self-care routine.

Rachel King is the owner of Lift & Glitz Training Studio in Northfield, NJ. With 13 years of experience in the fitness industry, Rachel holds certifications in Personal & Group Fitness through ISSA and is a Zumba Fitness Instructor.

A proud single mother of two, Rachel balances her professional and personal life with grace and determination. She earned her BA in Communications from Stockton University and resides in Northfield.

June 26, 2025

↘Continued from 86 In the summers between semesters at Penn State, he worked the casino floors of the Sands and Tropicana in Atlantic City. The environment was fast, unpredictable, and full of pressure. It was during this time that he was able to experience real leadership in person, and his passion for it slowly began to grow.

It was also during one of those formative summers that he met Maria Palmer, a Ventnor native. Their college romance evolved into a lifelong partnership, one that has seen them through more than 40 years of marriage, three sons, and 13 moves across the country and abroad during Phil’s active duty service.

Phil was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force through Penn State’s ROTC program and rose through the ranks to become a colonel and command pilot. He served four overseas tours following 9/11 and held high-level leadership posts, including Pentagon program manager and director of NATO’s Joint Task Force Operations Center in Naples, Italy.

After retiring from the Air Force, Phil continued his leadership journey in the private sector with Boeing.

There, he oversaw aircrew training operations and led workforce development initiatives supporting thousands of employees globally.

Throughout, his commitment to helping others grow into confident, values-driven leaders never wavered.

That commitment culminated in “Leadership Excellence,” which introduces the “Model for Sustained Leadership Success” — a framework built on three foundational values: character, service and excellence; and three attributes: trust, concern and the will to lead. These core values are all inspired by the Air Force, which Iannuzzi claims “absolutely helped influence my own leadership philosophy.”

Phil’s reflections are grounded not only in research but in personal experience — from the frontlines of military operations to the dynamics of corporate boardrooms and the

June 26, 2025

lecture halls where he’s taught as an adjunct professor. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Delaware Valley University in 2020 and holds five master’s degrees in everything from systems management to strategic studies.

Today, Phil and Maria live in Doylestown, Pa., but remain deeply connected to the South Jersey community. They return to Ventnor and Margate frequently, where Maria’s mother and brother still live and where Phil’s family continues to gather and create new memories.

“This book is really my way of giving back,” he says.

“I’ve had incredible opportunities throughout my career, and I hope this can help prepare the next generation of leaders,” Ianuzzi said.

Whether you're leading a business, school, nonprofit, or military team, “Leadership Excellence” offers a practical, principle-based guide to long-term success — and a reminder that real leadership starts behind the scenes.

“Leadership Excellence” is available now on Amazon. A portion of the proceeds will support organizations that expand access to education and leadership development.

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Are You Ready to Buy or Sell Your Home Now? 89

The top six questions to ask your agent when selling your home Real Estate Matters

By Elisa Jo Eagan

W

hen you are getting ready to put your home on the market, you may be lying awake at night wondering about the logistics and financial ramifications of your decisions.

Here are the top six questions you should ask your agent in order to set your mind at ease and feel more prepared for the closing table.

How will I determine what price to ask for my home?

Your real estate agent will look at recent comparable sales in your area as well as your current competition among active listings and go over the information with you. This will give you a good baseline potential

Elisa Jo Eagan

valuation for your home in establishing a mutually agreed upon asking price for your property.

What improvements should I make to optimize my home’s resale value?

Your agent will conduct a thorough walk-through of your home with you and look for any needed repairs or extremely out-of-date fixtures or finishes that might deter a buyer.

Beyond that, you will discuss updates that can add value while offering a solid return on your investment.

You don’t necessarily want to put in a whole new kitchen or all new bathrooms because you probably won’t get the money back in your sales price, however if your home is severely out of date, you may need to give it an overhaul in order to realize a sales price comparable to those of the other, more updated homes in your area.

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How will I pre-market my listing?

The home sale doesn’t just start the day that the listing goes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Generally, your agent will start helping you get your property home-buyer-ready before the first potential buyer, or any other agent arrives. This may involve staging the home, taking pictures and/or videos of your home and property, and

Is bigger always better when it comes to pre-sale home improvements?

Actually, no. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), some of the most cost-effective improvements with the highest return on investment (ROI) include those items related to curb appeal. A new front door or even a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference in the way that the home is perceived.

In addition, interventions like deep cleaning or decluttering cost little or nothing, yet can have a big impact on potential buyers. Don’t forget the outdoors, which offers some of the most affordable improvements with the highest return on investment (ROI). Get your lawn in check, plant a new tree and spruce up the landscaping to improve both curb appeal and the home’s value at the same time.

What if I don’t want to make any improvements to my home before listing it?

For a variety of reasons, you may be unable, or unwilling, to make changes or improvements to your home, or you may not be in the financial position to do so. You are certainly not required to make any improvements and your agent can list your property for sale “as is,” indicating to potential buyers that you do not intend to fix anything at your cost, or negotiate any further on the price for repairs. But keep in mind that an “as-is” sale can affect your ability to get top dollar for your home, even if it is in good overall condition.

In addition, many mortgage lenders require certain baseline repairs to major systems, so, if there are plumbing, electrical, or structural issues, you may be required to make needed repairs in order to get your home sold.

advising you on a plan in preparing your home for sale. Your home may also be featured as a “coming soon” listing and your agent may place a for sale sign in your yard to attract, screen and prequalify potential buyers in advance and schedule individual private showings of your home.

How will I market my home listing?

Your agent may market your home in many different ways depending on the unique qualities and features of your property and location of your home and other factors. Marketing may be as simple as signage, photography, a well-written property description, creative advertising, and/ or video presentations of your home and outreach through the internet to attract and capture the best buyer for your home.

Your agent should articulate a plan for your home sale along with you. Be sure to do your part to support the marketing plan by properly cleaning and decluttering the space in cooperation with your agent’s recommendations.

Congratulations to all of our graduates and a happy official summer to all of our Shore Local family. Enjoy!

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!"

June 26, 2025

Should you worry if your vet says your puppy has an abnormal heart rate?

By Heidi Clayton

I

received an email from a concerned pet owner about their young puppy having what the vet called an “innocent” heart murmur, asking if I thought the puppy would be able to handle training classes. Hearing that your puppy has an irregular heartbeat can be scary.

However, in most cases, they do tend to resolve, and your puppy will be just fine. Let’s talk about when I would worry about the presence of a heart murmur.

A heart murmur can be defined as an abnormal heartbeat. Murmurs are graded on a scale of one to four.

Grade one is the least significant, and four is the most. They are either systolic, which happens when the heart is contracting, or diastolic, meaning

they occur when the heart is relaxing.

According to the American Kennel Club, approximately 28 percent of all puppies under six months of age have what is called an “innocent” or “physiologic” heart murmur upon their first exam. This number can jump to 58 percent in sporting breeds. When a puppy under four to six months of age is examined, the murmur could be a result of excitement and increased blood flow. A murmur in puppies under six months old could also be due to stages of heart development or changes taking place in the flow of blood through the heart. Innocent heart murmurs tend to resolve themselves no later than six months of age.

When would I become concerned?

Over the course of breeding Bull Terriers for 20 years, I have had one puppy that may have had an innocent murmur. Sometimes, the three different vets I took him to heard it; sometimes, they did not. On the days it was not heard, it was when he was stand-

ing completely still and not jumping around or becoming excited. When the puppy was around six months old, I took him for an echocardiogram to rule out any structural issues or congenital birth defects in his heart, because I did have plans to use him in my breeding program. If this dog was not intended for breeding, I would not have rushed to get the EKG unless his heart murmur was getting worse and there were other symptoms such as shortness of breath, stunted growth, or being unable to hold his weight.

Some breeds that are deep-chested, like Dobermans, Boxers, and Bull Terriers, will also have a different rate of blood flow through the heart because of their physical structure.

So, I merely wanted to ensure that this dog's heart was developing normally. I repeated the EKG when he was three years old, and his heart was completely normal.

When I would worry about a heart murmur in any dog, regardless of age, is when it is consistently heard during exams, is graded either a three or a four, and there are other physical

symptoms that are seen daily.

Congenital heart defects will most likely be accompanied by a higher grade of murmur. The puppy also would have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, lethargy, poor appetite, and stunted growth.

While it may be scary to hear that your puppy has a heart murmur, try not to panic right away! I know more puppies that have had innocent heart murmurs at a young age than I do that have had congenital birth defects. The best course of action is to listen to your vet. Ask about the grading of the murmur and have the heart rechecked at intervals to see if it is heard each exam. At each exam, note if it is getting worse or remains the same. If the murmur is still present beyond six months, there is never any harm in seeking a second opinion from a cardiologist to put your mind at ease. Worst-case scenario, it could uncover any defects early on that can be treated.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at 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

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June 26, 2025

Catch-up contribution chaos

By Eric Reich

T

he SECURE 2.0 Act is full of great benefits for those saving for retirement.

Among the new changes are “super catch-up contributions” for those between age 60 and age 63. While this new higher contribution limit is welcomed by many, it can be extremely complicated and difficult to understand. This week, I’ll do my best to break down the new rules as well as explain who they apply to and when.

1. IRAs For IRAs in 2025, nothing changes. Those under age 50 with earned income up to the limits can make $7000 in contributions. For those over age 50, they can make an additional $1000 contribution for a total of $8000. Starting in 2026, this number will now be indexed for inflation.

2. 401(k) plans For those age 50 and older in 2025, they can make an additional $7500 on top of the existing $23,500 limit for a total of $31,000. If you turn ages 60 through 63 during the year, you can contribute an additional $11,250 instead of $7500 for a total of $34,750. If you turn 64 at any point during that year, you are not eligible to make the extra catch-up contribution.

3. 403(b) and 457(b) participants may have additional contribution limits.

For those in a 403(b) with 15 years

June 26, 2025

of service, they can make an additional $3,000 in additional contributions.

There are only years of service requirement, not an age requirement, once you are over age 50 in these plans. This extra $3,000 is limited to a lifetime maximum of $15,000 in additional contributions.

4. 457(b) plans are broken down into two types: governmental and nongovernmental. Governmental plans allow for the additional $7500 catch-up. Nongovernmental plans do not allow for the additional contributions. Both plans, however, allow for a unique catch-up option in the last three years prior to retirement.

In those years, all 457(b) participants can double their normal contribution limit of $23,500 to a total of $47,000.

This limit does not allow for any regular age 50 catch-up contributions in addition to this limit.

5. SIMPLE IRAs take these complicated rules to a whole new level.

Regular 2025 contribution limits are $16,500, or $20,000 for those over age 50. Simple, right? (Pun intended). Not so fast! For “eligible employers,” both of those contribution amounts are increased by 10%.

Who does that apply to? Employers who did not have a 401(k) type plan for three years before opening the SIMPLE plan are eligible. Why? I have absolutely no idea! I’ve learned over the last 29 years that sometimes it’s better not to ask questions, just follow along. This bonus is for employers with under 25 employees. Those with over 25 employees can also qualify if they match 4% instead of the normal 3%. If they contribute the normal 2% to all participants, whether or not the participants contribute, then they have to increase it to 3% in order to qualify. In 2025, the contribution

limit for those who qualify for the extra 10% is $17,600 under age 50 and $21,450 for those over age 50.

Simple, right? Oh, we’re not done yet!

Those between the ages of 60 and 63 also get an additional catch-up of $5,250. Those eligible for the extra catch-up can contribute a maximum of $$22,850. Lastly, employers now have the option of making a bonus contribution up to an additional 10% up to a limit of $5,000 for all employees.

Yes, these are incredibly complex rules that seem to get worse with each new bill passed. Please seek advice before making extra contributions so that you don’t violate any of these limitations.

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment

advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Reich Asset Management, LLC is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation.

To view form CRS visit https://bit.ly/ KF-Disclosures.

Eric is President and founder of Reich Asset Management, LLC. He relies on his 25 years of experience to help clients have an enjoyable retirement. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®) and has earned his Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations.

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THIRTYFOURTH ALBANY LONGPORT MARGATECAUSEWAY DORSET

96

OCEANDRIVE ROUTETHIRTY SEAISLEBOULEVARD PATCONGCREEK

NINTH COOPER EXPRESSWAY BRIGANTINE

MURPHY’S OTHER LAWS, PART II ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end-to-end, someone from California would try to pass them.

The things that come to those who wait may be the things left by those who got there first.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day, drinking beer.

Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.

God gave you toes as a device for finding furniture in the dark.

When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

June 26, 2025

OPEN FROM 11AM CLOSED MONDAY

609-645-0500 THEME: SCIENCE 101

SUDOKU Solution on page 98

ACROSS 1. Glass piece 6. *It can be measured via carbon decay 9. Sandwich alternative 13. Free-for-all 14. Madame Tussauds' medium 15. State of dishonor 16. Kidney, e.g.

17. Cleopatra's killer 18 Arthur Hailey bestseller 19 *Force pulling two objects together 21 *One on Mendeleev's table 23 Organ of balance 24 Criticism 25 British mom 28 Tibetan priest 30 Gluten-free dieter's disease 35 Relating to #23 Across 37 Deficiency 39 Goes with onions?

40 "In ____ veritas" 41 Daisylike bloom 43 Apple leftover 44 Choose Trump, e.g.

46 Feed storage 47 Actor Kristofferson 48 Gibraltar or Bering 50 Moonfish 52 Hitherto 53 Jockey's leash 55 Give a nickname to 57 *"A Brief History of Time" author 61 "One of Us" singer Joan 65 *Most of Earth's hydrosphere 66 Fall behind 68 American Akita, e.g.

69 Circular gasket 70 Nocturnal flyer 71 Verb derived from "laser" 72 Chipper 73 Smallest whole number 74 "_____! Read all about it!"

DOWN 1 Urban haze 2 Drosselmeyer's title 3 *Pond organism 4 Ransack or plunder 5 Coping mechanism 6 "And ____ we go!"

7 *Low density state of matter 8 Kick out of school 9 "For ____ the Bell Tolls" 10 *60 miles/hour, e.g.

11 So be it 12 Trapper's bounty 15 Israeli money 20 "____-____-la" refrain 22 Lake in Provence 24 Dissenting clique 25 *Galilei: "And yet it ____" 26 At less then 90 degrees 27 Forty-niner, e.g.

29 *m in F = ma 31 Way to seal an envelope 32 Poacher's ware 33 Bird of prey nest 34 *Highest point in a wave 36 Source of cocaine 38 Kind of seaweed 42 Two diverged, one not taken and other taken 45 Causing one to need rest 49 X 51 *He had a telescope named after him 54 Inuit shelter 56 *a.k.a sodium borate 57 LeBron's goal 58 43,560 square feet 59 Dam-like structure 60 Immanuel ____, German philosopher 61 Eye up and down 62 None of this for the weary 63 ____-do-well 64 Cocoyam 67 Grass bristle

See Solution on Page 98

June 26, 2025

97

Weekly Horoscopes

Let Progressive Help You!

time around could produce fascinating results.

Gemini: A simple reframing of a thought, phrase or message can shift its energy. Put the phrase “your word is your wand” into your favorite search engine and dive into the magic.

Cancer: Another reworking of your finances is incoming, directly related to your role in your work. Ask for the raise, or go for a promotion. The energies support you stepping up.

Leo: You came here to shine.

Consider where you’re holding back or shying away from the spotlight. Push yourself a little more to be bold and roar your heart out.

Virgo: Be more intentional about tapping into the whispers from your soul. Practices that create presence, such as meditation, can help you be more receptive to the subtle messages.

Libra: Your relationship to your larger friend groups and community takes center stage for a while. Whether or not they make your heart sing will be the source of consideration.

Scorpio: The connection between your work and your well-being becomes an area of focus. Whether or not you have a creative voice or outlet in your work may be revealing.

Sagittarius: Creating something is one thing; showcasing it is another.

There are so many creative outlet options. Choose one that feels aligned with your vision and go for it.

Capricorn: Information previously hidden may surface. The dynamics could affect your resources. Keep your boundaries firm, and request privacy if needed.

Aquarius: Reconnecting with friends and craving more heart-centered time with those closest to you

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The Cosmic Connection with Ursula Duffy

Rising sign horoscopes for June 26 – July 2

♈

Aries: Everything you create contains a part of your identity. As you become more and more yourself, be sure to infuse your creations with your unique gifts.

Taurus: The nudge to reevaluate your home is returning. Tapping into the power of manifesting practices this

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will flavor the coming weeks ahead.

More social time is good for the spirit.

Pisces: Having a way to express your creativity every day is a must. Ensure daily practices or activities that keep you in flow and enjoy the boost.

♓

Weekly astrology summary:

June ends with the beginning of the preview period for the next Mercury retrograde. The main themes will begin to surface, with a unique set of supportive and challenging energies infusing the upcoming experience due to the new planetary shifts that happened during the first half of this year. The next retrograde will occur fully in the zodiac sign Leo, beginning on July 16 and ending on Aug. 11. Pay close attention to what begins to develop within the context of creativity, self-expression, boldness, authenticity and communicating from the heart. There are brand-new cosmic connections present personally and collectively!

See the above horoscope for your rising sign for more specific insight and guidance. If you’re unsure what your rising sign is, you can email me at ursaalchemy@gmail.com, learn more in my info/tutorial video on my Ursa Alchemy YouTube channel, or cast your own birth chart for free on astro.com.

Ursula Duffy is a Professional A s t r o l o g e r, Certified Aromatherapist and founder of Ursa Alchemy. Find her astrology readings and astrological a ro m a t h e ra py s e r v i ce s , teachings, podcast, get in touch and more at www.ursaalchemy. com or ursaalchemy@gmail.com.

Solutions to page 97 puzzles.

Check yourself!

98

June 26, 2025

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