SHORE LOCAL | Mainland | September 11, 2025

SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY'S NEWSMAGAZINE

Catch the Seafood Festival This Weekend Air Show to Soar Over OC

North eld Chickens Have Home to Roost for Now

South Jersey Woman Drawn into Phillies Furor

Life is golden

Letter from the editor

September at the Shore carries a softer glow. the pace eases, beaches grow quieter and the dunes brighten with goldenrod. those sprays of yellow remind me that life is golden, especially in the small, everyday moments.

seaside goldenrod more closely. It grows tough and unshaken by wind or salt, offering nectar to monarch butterflies on their long migration south. Its strength is quiet, but no less powerful. In the same way, progress or success in our lives doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Growth often looks like showing up, day after day — for our health, our families, our communities and our work.

t here’s still warmth left in the sand for reading a book on the beach. High school sports, concerts, farmers markets and festivals all wait to be enjoyed before the season slips away. Look for the colors spreading across

All summer, we race to keep up with plans and bucket lists. then September comes along and shifts the focus. Suddenly, it’s the simple things that stand out — a walk at dusk, the salt air rolling through the car window, a neighbor’s wave across the street or the first morning that calls for a hoodie. these are the moments that restore me.

Lately, I’ve been noticing the

the marshes, or watch the birds gathering overhead.

September glows without trying. my hope is that we take time to notice. to see beauty in the little things, to encourage one another and to let the dunes remind us: life is golden when we slow down long enough to see it.

Peace & Love, Cindy

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

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

Publisher Assistant - Julia Train

Copy Editors - James FitzPatrick, Holly Fertsch, Julia Train

Advertising Sales - Meg Perry (609)425-5407 shorelocalmeg@gmail.com

Web Designer - Holly Martin, Digital Marketing - Liz Katz

Contributors –Charles Eberson, Scott Cronick, Tammy Thornton, Rich Baehrle, Sarah Fertsch, Steffen Klenk, Rebecca Oldham, Brian Cahill, Dave Weinberg, Doug Deutsch, Rachael King, Elisa Jo Eagan, Joe Martucci, Heidi Clayton, Eric Reich, Chuck Darrow, Bruce Klauber, Alex Corson, Cat Pepe, Christina Martin, Delaney Crawford, Ursula Duffy, Robin Stoloff, Tynan Hand, Madison Russ

Cover photo of Cody Gregory by his grandfather Greg Gregory.

the

that

SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY'S NEWSMAGAZINE

By Julia Train

AUpper Township family records Cape May County-inspired song

family from Upper township came together this summer to record a song that celebrates family, memories and the shore.

Jerry Fournier and his daughterin-law Nikki, along with her sister Hannah m cGlade, collaborated on their song, released on Aug. 27, as a tribute to Jerry’s late wife, recollecting her favorite spots in Cape m ay County.

the track, titled “An Ode to Cape may,” was written by Jerry and features vocals from Nikki and Hannah. It has been released on more than 150 digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple m usic and Amazon m usic.

While Nikki never sang seriously — besides in the back of Jerry’s truck — Jerry has been in the music scene for decades.

He began his music career by releasing his first album in 1972. Over the years, his path took him from boston to philadelphia and eventually to Cape m ay County, where he and his wife chose to settle.

Jerry’s wife had grown up vacationing in Ocean City and wanted to live closer to her family in baltimore, but Jerry didn’t want to move there. So, the couple found a home in Upper township, and Ocean City’s beach and boardwalk quickly became central parts of their lives.

t he song reflects the joy his wife found in the region. It highlights her favorite activities, from relaxing on the north side of the Ocean City m usic pier to riding the Cape may-Lewes Ferry.

Jerry said she rarely left the Ocean City boardwalk without getting an ice cream from Kohr bros. or pizza from then- mack & manco. She also enjoyed searching for Cape may diamonds at Sunset beach.

t he song was designed to be lighthearted rather than mournful, celebrating the experiences and memories that defined her connection to the shore.

“It's not a sad song. It's a happy song, because it's all the stuff she

loved and we love,” Jerry said. the idea for the project developed six months ago. earlier in the year, two songs by a Christian band that Jerry’s wife had been featured in during the late 1970s were remastered and re-released. that process encouraged him to consider writing something new in her memory. Once the concept took shape, he began developing lyrics and melodies, eventually settling on a chorus he describes as the hook of the track.

recording and production became a collaborative effort spanning several states. president of partridge records robert penney was the executive producer and oversaw distribution from maine. Additional digital editing was handled in California, while final mastering took place at a pennsylvania studio.

“It's much more complicated now than it was back in 1972,” Jerry said.

What made the project unique was the involvement of family. Nikki, who married Jerry’s son, provided lead vocals and her sister also participated, lending backup vocals.

b eyond music, Nikki works in health care and is known for her love of Disney and creativity. In her spare time, she designs custom t-shirts and embroidered items inspired by Disney. Her sister, Hannah, is a college student and Jerry is enjoying retirement.

“Ode to Cape may” can be found anywhere that streams music.

Iced Bananas Foster with sweet cold foam

Praline Chai Latte for

Pumpkin Latte Pair with

Hannah McGlade (left) and Nikki Fournier (right)

What history can tell us about about the winter ahead

By Meteorologist Joe Martucci

History shows that when July is hotter than usual and August is cooler than usual, like what just happened at the Jersey Shore this year, it’s a good clue about what the com -

ing winter might be like. Here’s why past weather patterns suggest it could be colder than average.

Using information from the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist, where I did research during my senior year at r utgers University, I collected average temperature data for every month since 1895. I focused on the Coastal Zone, which the climate

Since 1982

A family-run, all-service tire and automotive facility. We pride ourselves on our customer service and honesty. Our great relationship with our customers has allowed us to service their vehicles for over 40 years at the same location! Drive in confidence and shop tires from the top trusted tire brands.

Front & Rear End Wheel Alignment for All Cars & trucks

office describes as areas east of the Garden State parkway in monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic counties, plus almost all of Cape may County.

Snowfall data came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Lower township, Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic City and Long branch. While Atlantic City doesn’t report snowfall anymore, they did from 1874 to the 1950s, which I used for this project.

What do a hot July and a cooler August mean for the Jersey Shore’s winter temperatures?

those July-August stretches. t here was a strong signal for temperatures to be colder than our most recent 30-year average. the 17 years broke down like this for the four-month December- m arch period.

Colder than average for all four months: 3

three months colder than average: 7

two months colder than average: 5 One or no months colder than average: 2

In other words, 59% of years had all months colder than the 1991-to2020 average; 12% had no or only one month colder than average.

If September is chilly, too, history says a frigid winter is likely. September is also likely to be cooler than the period of record average, given the first 10 days of the month, as well as the forecast through at least Sept. 18.

Going back to 1895, there have been 18 years when a cooler-than-average August followed a hotter-than-average July in the Coastal Zone. t hat includes 2025 when August wound up 3.2 degrees below average – 31st coolest of the 130 years of record keeping. July was 2.4 degrees above average – the sixth hottest on record. the most recent such period before that was 2017.

Average here is defined as the period of record average from 1895 to 2025. Usually, though, meteorologists use a 30-year average to discuss what is above or below average. the period of record average is cooler than the most recent 30-year average due to the changing climate.

I then investigated what temperatures were for December through m arch for the months following

the historical likelihood that winter will be colder than average, based on just those years, is even higher. Of the 12 times this happened, 10 had at least three months between December and march that were colder than average.

Hot July, cool August: Snowy winter at the Jersey Shore? the history books don’t show a clear link between a super-hot July and a cooler-than-usual August when it comes to snowy winters. Here’s what we found about snow at four Jersey Shore weather stations after 17 winters with that kind of July and August:

Lower township: 6 winters had more snow, 7 had less.

Atlantic City International Airport: 3 winters had more snow, 9 had less.

Atlantic City: 3 winters had more snow, 4 had less.

Long branch: 6 winters had more snow, 4 had less. each weather station has been around for different amounts of time, so the number of years checked isn’t the same for all. but if you love snow, you might be excited to know that the last two times this happened (the winters of 2017-’18 and 2013’14), there was more snow than usual. Also, if September is cooler than normal, the chances of a snowy winter go up. Out of 12 years with a hot July, cool August, and cool September, most had more snow than average. Does history matter when it comes to this winter’s forecast?

September is in the middle of the August-to-October time frame that long-range forecasters typically use to do their winter forecasts. As part of their research, they look at what the weather in previous springs and summers was like. they then look at what the following winter was like to give them an idea of what to expect. So if, for example, 2017 had conditions similar to 2025, they’d look at the winter of 2017-’18 to give New Jerseyans an idea of what this winter will be like.

they’re called analog years in the weather world. While each forecaster has their own winter formula, analog

years are a part of the process, but usually not the main source of information they use.

I don’t do my own winter forecast. However, look for a winter forecast by the top Northeast experts in October. We can read whether they used the winter of 2017-’18 or 2013-’14 as an analog year.

9/11 at the Jersey Shore

In this Shore Local Weather Column, published on Sept. 11, let’s reflect on the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. that day brought uncertainty, pain and incredible strength to our nation. As Alan Jackson’s song asks, “Where were you when the world stopped turning?”

If you’re old enough to remember, take a moment to think back on where you were. You might also consider visiting one of the 9/11 memorials along the Jersey Shore. my favorite is in Absecon – it’s powerful, with a lifelike replica of the twin towers that’s both beautiful and deeply moving.

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.

Outstanding Selection!

Hammonton drawn into Phillies furor

By David Weinberg

Hammonton is very accomplished at producing two things: blueberries and athletes.

both crops are usually bountiful. Folks from throughout South Jersey and beyond flock to the local farms to pick fresh blueberries that are so well-known that A b C’s “Good morning America” featured them this summer.

Sports, especially baseball and softball, are just as popular. It dates back decades and first gained acclaim in 1949, when Hammonton won the inaugural Little League World Series in Williamsport, pennsylvania behind Nuncie Sacco, Joe Di Giacomo, Anthony b ilazzo, Charles Craig and others led the team to a 5-0 victory over pensacola, Fla.

So it was little wonder the com -

munity was quick to shoot down the rumor that the woman who was captured on video snatching a baseball from a father and son at a phillies- m arlins game in m iami last week was misidentified as an administrator in the Hammonton public School District.

“ the woman identified as ‘ phillies Karen’ is not and never has been an employee of the Hammonton

School District,” the district said in a statement. “Anyone who works for our school district, attended as a student, or lives in our community would obviously have caught the ball barehanded in the first place, avoiding this entire situation.”

according to various media outlets. Drew handed her the baseball to avoid further confrontation and the woman returned to her seat while other spectators booed.

" putting the ball in his glove and then taking it back out killed me," Drew told N b C 10 philadelphia. “I hope that ball means a lot to her.”

A stadium usher remedied the situation by presenting the Feltwell’s with a gift bag. After the game, bader presented Drew with an autographed bat.

the incident quickly went viral on social media, with various memes cropping up. m eanwhile, folks sought to identify the woman, including a post that suggested she was from Hammonton.

As someone who covered his share of baseball and softball games in the area during the late 1980’s and early 90’s, I can positively guarantee that “Karen ballsnatcher” never suited up for Hammonton, St. Joseph of Hammonton or any other softball team in Atlantic, Cape may or Cumberland Counties.

the issue surfaced last weekend, when phillies outfielder Harrison bader smacked a home run into the left field bleachers at miami’s LoanDepot park. the ball landed in front of a row of seats and bounced around while several fans reached for it.

the ball wound up being picked up by a phillies fan named Drew Feltwell, who then ran over to his 10-year-old son, Lincoln, and handed him the ball as a birthday present.

Seconds later, Drew and Lincoln were approached by a woman wearing a phillies jersey, who yelled that the baseball belonged to her.

“ t hat’s my ball!” Drew Feltwell said the woman screamed at him,

b oth Hammonton and St. Joe fielded outstanding softball teams in that era. Anyone who couldn’t field a grounder would never have left the dugout under then- blue Devils coach Lee Chappine.

the same goes for other local high school softball coaches at the time, including b uena’s pam pickett and Ocean City’s roland Watson. If she grew up a little farther south, she no doubt would have sat the bench at Wildwood High in 1976, the year the Warriors won the State Group I championship behind coach peggy picketts and standouts like Jill (Alex-

↘Continued on 12

An administrator in the Hammonton Public School District was misidentified as the ‘Phillies Karen.’

Ocean City’s Rob Kelly took home titles in the Pacifico Belmar Pro contest. Photo courtesy of Joe O'Brien

Skip The Line and Buy Online

ander) mauger, Donna Frederick and Lisa Shultz.

If she’s of a certain age, she could have played for the VFW Women’s Auxiliary babes in the Lower Cape m ay Little League Softball division in 1993-94. they were an expansion team in 1993 and as such, 14 of the 15 players had never played softball before signing up that spring, including my daughter, Ashley.

and placed second in the FINS m en’s Open division.

Local NFL update

Several former players from Cape-Atlantic League schools saw action in Week 1 of the NFL season.

Jaguars rookie rb LeQuint Allen (m illville) had one carry for 7 yards and caught a 4-yard pass in his debut during Jacksonville’s 26-10 win over Carolina. Defensive tackle Austin

but by the end of the second season, they had developed into solid players who could field, hit and throw.

t hey, too, would have grabbed that home run ball bare-handed with no trouble. And if not, they certainly wouldn’t have snatched the ball from a 10-year-old boy.

Come Halloween, you’re no doubt going to see a lot of “Karen b allsnatcher” costumes, complete with a phillies jersey, glasses, and short blond/gray hair wigs.

It’s all in good fun, but she’s giving softball/baseball players a bad name.

Not to mention Karen’s, a group that includes my wife.

Aside from her name and being a longtime phillies fan – tommy Hutton was her favorite player growing up - Karen (Newton) Weinberg has nothing in common with that woman.

She’s kind, considerate and nice.

And she can catch a baseball.

Local surfers excel in Belmar Pro

Ventnor’s Cassidy m cClain and Ocean City’s rob Kelly took home titles in the pacifico belmar pro contest last weekend.

Cassidy won the playa b owls Women’s Open division for the second straight year.

Kelly earned first place in the Creatures m asters Open contest

Johnson (St. Augustine prep, Galloway township) began his 10th NFL season with a pass defense for the Jaguars.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback max m elton (Cedar Creek, mays Landing) recorded six tackles in a 20-13 win over New Orleans.

Older brother b o m elton (Cedar Creek, mays Landing), who has switched from wide receiver to defensive back, suffered a shoulder injury in Green bay’s 27-13 win over Detroit.

Chiefs rb Isiah pacheco (Vineland) rushed for 25 yards on five carries and had two receptions for 3 yards in a 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Cowboys D b m arkquese b ell (b ridgeton) saw action on special teams in a 24-20 loss to the eagles last thursday.

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

Cassidy McClain won the Playa Bowls Women’s Open division for the second straight

Photo credit: Michael Taylor

Events and Happenings

Multi-Day Events

Downbeach Seafood Fest

▶Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14

Ski beach, Dorset and burk Ave., Ventnor

the annual Downbeach Seafood Fest is this weekend. enjoy a wide selection of amazing seafood and dishes from dozens of area eateries, sample the great brews of New Jersey, check out the live music, indulge in award-winning chowder and support the craft vendors onsite. tickets are on sale now at www. downbeachseafoodfest.com.

Thursday, September 11

Absecon 9/11 Ceremony

▶6:30 p.m.

Heritage park, 440 mill road

Join the Absecon 9/11 m emorial Founders Committee for a ceremony at the 9/11 memorial behind City Hall. bring a lawn chair.

Cardiff 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

▶6 p.m.

egg Harbor township Community Center, 5045 english Creek Ave.

the Cardiff Fire Company invites the public to attend a ceremony remembering those we lost and honoring our first responders.

Ocean City 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

▶6 p.m.

Ocean City Fire Department, Sixth and Asbury Ave.

A Day to remember will include music, prayer and reflections on the memory of lives lost and the community spirit that was renewed in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. All are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.oceancityvacation.com.

Friday, September 12

C.R.O.P.S. Farmers Market

▶4-6 p.m.

Fisherman’s park Community Garden massachusetts and Drexel Ave., Atlantic City purchase local fruits, vegetables and herbs, enjoy nature’s beauty and share gardening knowledge with C. r .O. p.S. Open Fridays through Sept. 19.

Smithville Car Cruise

▶5-8 p.m.

Historic Smithville, 615 e moss mill road

Join fellow car enthusiasts for the final car cruise of the year in Smithville. Just drive to the side parking lot of the Village Greene, near the red covered bridge, by the orange cones. m ove a cone and park your car. For more information, visit www. historicsmithville.com.

Fall Concert Series at Ocean City Library

▶6:30 p.m.

1735 Simpson Ave.

this week, the Fiddle Club presents America’s Songbook of popular tunes. this program will be held in the Chris maloney Lecture Hall. the event is free and seating is first come, first served.

Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point

▶7 p.m.

William m orrow b each, 800 bay Ave.

t his week, hear the sounds of multi-million-selling classic rock star m itch r yder perform with the tony mart Allstars, with special guest opener, South Jersey blues rock band twisted Livin’. Visit www.tonymart.

↘Continued on 14

ACTIVE ADULT SENIOR EXPO & 2025

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 5:00 – 7:00 pm & FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Admission is FREE and open to the public. FREE Transportation from Select Locations.

• Vendors

• Health Screenings

• Exercise Demonstrations

• Vaccinations

• American Red Cross Blood Drive

• Basket Raffles

• Cooking Demo

• Wine Tasting

• Chair Massage

• Skin Analysis with Accredited Esthetician

The Downbeach Seafood Festival is Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14.

Photo credit: The Downbeach Seafood Festival Facebook

com for updates and more information.

Saturday, September 13

Craft Show & Bake Sale in Ocean City

▶9 a.m.-2 p.m.

St. John Lutheran Church, 1001 Central Ave.

Come visit St. John’s 4th Annual Craft Show and bake Sale. there’s something for everyone, with a variety of handmade items and rarities. Non-perishable food items will be collected for the Ocean City ecumenical Food Cupboard.

Stay Focused Photo Club

▶9:30 a.m.

Stockton University, F Wing, room F111, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway

Do you love capturing moments, learning new techniques and connecting with others who share your passion for photography? If so, the Stay Focused photography Club is for you. Learn from engaging speakers who share fresh ideas and techniques, connect with fellow photographers and gain inspiration to grow your skills. m eetings are held on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. and are open to the public. Light breakfast items and refreshments provided. Learn more

at www.stayfocusedphoto. club.

Bark in the Park

▶10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Atlantic County 4-H Fairgrounds, 3210 route 50, mays Landing

Join Laddie’s Legacy and the Absecon Veterinary Hospital for their 5th Annual bark in the park, the largest dog-friendly event in South Jersey. the event will feature family-friendly activities, including a dog show, food trucks, vendors, dog training demonstrations, doggy musical sit, future vet workshop, human vs. dog pie eating contest, raffle baskets and more. tickets are available online by visiting the ticket link at www. facebook.com/AbseconVet.

Ocean City Airport Festival

▶10 a.m.-3 p.m.

m unicipal Airport, 26th and bay Ave.

Festivities include a ground display of unusual airplanes ranging from World War II planes to classics and warbirds. the event will feature a parachute jump from team Fastrax and other family-friendly activities. For more information, visit www. oceancityvacation.com.

3120 Fire Road, Suite 100, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ Phone 609.317.0801 kap@djd.law djdlawyers.com

▶10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Historic Smithville, 615 e moss mill road

m ore than 75 local artists will set up their displays along the Village Greene, located near the red covered bridge. there will be plenty of special guests and live music. For more information, visit www.historicsmithville. com.

Somers Point Art in the Park

▶10 a.m.-4 p.m.

JFK park, 24 broadway

Join the Somers p oint Arts Commission for Art in the park, an outdoor festival featuring dozens of local artists showcasing and selling their work, from photos to canvases, assemblages and more. there will be plenty of activities for the kids, including a community art painting, imagination station, student artwork and activities galore. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Free admission. Visit artintheparksomerspt.weebly.com.

Ocean City ALS United Walk

▶10 a.m.

Ocean City Civic Center, Sixth St. and the boardwalk

Join ALS United mid-Atlantic for their upcoming walk this Saturday in support of local care service programs, advocacy and research. Join hundreds of participants from across the region and take the first step towards ending ALS. registration and check-in opens at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.alsmidatlantic. org.

Goodbye Summer Bonfire on the Brigantine Beach

▶6 p.m.

26th Street beach

Celebrate the end of summer with a night out on the beach in brigantine. enjoy live music, a cozy bonfire, a sweet treat from the s’mores station

and a 50/50 raffle. t he event will feature music by petty Cash and a seaside atmosphere that cannot be beat. Hosted by the brigantine Chamber of Commerce.

‘Carmina Burana’ Performed by the Ocean City Pops

▶7:30 p.m.

bill and Nancy Hughes performing Arts Center, Sixth St. and Atlantic Ave.

the Ocean City pops will close its summer season with “Carmina burana,” which begins and ends with the powerful and famous “O Fortuna.” maestro Vince Lee and the pops will join forces with the rowan University Chorus and Atlantic City ballet for this extraordinary collaboration. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.oceancityvacation.com.

Sunday, September 14

Risley Square Farmers Market

▶9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

319 e . Jimmie Leeds road, Galloway

Shop local and support dozens of local vendors selling fresh produce, fantastic food, locally-sourced products and crafts. Open Sundays through Sept. 28.

Smithville Antique Classic Car Show

▶10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Historic Smithville, 615 e moss mill road

Sponsored by the Jersey Cape region AACA, this show welcomes dozens of classic and antique cars to the towne of Historic Smithville. Come see rarities and vintage models up-close. For more information, visit www.historicsmithville.com.

Native Plant Garden Tour

▶12-4 p.m.

t he Southeast Chapter of the

↘Continued on 16

Smithville Art Walk

New Jersey Native plant Society will host their second annual Native plant Garden tour this Sunday. the event is free and open to the public and will take place in various backyards across South Jersey, including the Cameron Wildlife Sanctuary in marmora. Learn more at https://npsnj. org/event/southeast-chapter-2ndannual-native-plant-gardens-tour/ Ocean City Boardwalk Aerobatic Show

▶1 p.m.

Ocean City boardwalk from Sixth14th streets

Watch as some of the best stunt pilots and aerobatic champions fly over the beach and boardwalk. plus, witness demonstrations by U.S. Coast Guard and military planes. Visit www.oceancityvacation.com for more information.

Monday, September 15

Lunch Around Town with JFS

▶12-1:30 p.m.

North b each Café & Creamery, 5216 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor

JFS Village invites you to enjoy a leisurely lunch while supporting a local restaurant. this month, Village by the Shore will be dining at North beach Café in Ventnor. Come prepared for good food and conversation. Order off the menu and

pay individually. rSVp by Sept. 11 by contacting tina Serota at tserota@ jfsatlantic.org or by calling 609-2878872.

Tom Angello’s All-Star Jazz Series

▶7 p.m.

Gregory’s, 900 Shore r oad, Somers point t his m onday marks the return of All-Star Jazz concerts in Somers point. Join drummer tom Angello for the first show of the fall season, featuring the stunning vocals of paula Johns, backed by Andy Lalasis on the bass and Dave Hartl on piano. Jazz Society patron m embers may call 609-289-0326 for reservations. All others will be seated first come first served.

Tuesday, September 16

Who Were the Richards Family?

▶6:30 p.m.

Ventnor City Historical Society, 6500 Ventnor Ave.

Join historian John Hebbie of New Jersey’s batsto Village Historic Site for a discussion of the richards family, founders and developers of Ventnor. Hebbie will discuss the family of glass and iron industrialists who helped the development of Atlantic City and the founding of Ventnor City. this program is free to attend.

Trivia Night ▶6:30 p.m.

Longport Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave.

test your knowledge and compete with your team in a fun, fast-paced game covering a variety of topics. prizes will be awarded to the winning team. registration is required. Call 609-487-7403 for more information.

Senior Dance Society

▶7:30-10 p.m.

Somers point Fire Co. No. 1, 447 bethel road

Join in the fun and enjoy an evening of dancing with live musical duos every tuesday. Activities include social dancing, line dancing, dance mixers and more. For more information, contact Sharon at kookiecar@ yahoo.com.

Wednesday, September 17

Somers Point Pinochle Club

▶6-8:30 p.m.

Somers point Senior, Center 22 N. Ambler road the pinochle Club gathers every Wednesday night throughout the year to play. All are welcome to join.

Thursday, September 18

Coffee Klatch

▶10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave., margate

Join JFS Village for a fast-paced discussion on neighborhood happen -

ings, technology, social topics, world events, the arts and more. the program is moderated by Village Community Specialist tina Serota. rSVp by Sept. 15 by contacting tserota@ jfsatlantic.org or by calling 609-2878872.

HEROtini Happy Hour

▶5-7 p.m.

Gourmet Italian Cuisine & pizzeria, 324 S. pitney road, Galloway

Join the H erO Campaign for an evening of late summer fun in Galloway. Sip delicious mocktails, enjoy free appetizers, live music and prizes. plus, attendees will have the chance to win phillies tickets and vote on their favorite mocktails. b e part of the mission, one sip at a time and support safe and sober driving.

Friday, September 19

Brunch & Learn with JFS Village Native American Histories

▶10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave. margate

Join JFS Village for a powerful lecture that uncovers the buried chapters of global history aimed to spark reflection and raise awareness, presented by Dr. Calvin tesler from Lehigh University. rSVp by Sept. 16 by contacting tina Serota at tserota@ jfsatlantic.org or by calling 609-2878872.

Health and Wellness

Coffee Talk

▶Saturdays, 11 a.m.

Atlantic Community Wellness Center. 1125 Atlantic Ave., Suite 617, Atlantic City

the Atlantic County Wellness Center hosts a weekly gratitude-themed group. During this one-hour meeting, participants discuss, enhance and deepen their practice of gratitude, which is shown to reduce stress, improve mood and increase optimism. For more information, call 609-6523800 or email jgimbel@mhanj.org.

Monday Meditation and Stretching

▶mondays, 11:30 a.m.

m ental Health Association in Atlantic County, 4 e . Jimmie Leeds road, Galloway

t he Atlantic County Wellness Center provides a weekly meditation, follow-up discussion and light stretch on mondays. Newcomers and people with all levels of experience in meditation are welcome. For more information, call 609-652-3800 or email jgimbel@mhanj.org.

Depression and Anxiety Group

▶tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.

Atlantic Community Wellness Center, 1125 Atlantic Ave., Suite 617, Atlantic City

t his weekly in-person support group is offered to individuals seeking

coping strategies, mutual support, self-care, wellness and recovery. m eetings are led by peers who have lived experience. No cost to participate. Offered by the m ental Health Association in Atlantic County. For more information, call 609-6523800 or email jgimbel@mhanj.org.

Dementia Support Group

▶Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m.

egg Harbor township Community Center, 5045 english Creek Ave.

Held on the first and third Wednesday of every month from

1:30 to 3 p.m. Call Diane Conover at 609-402-6966 for more information.

MS Meet-Up

▶thursday, Sept. 18, 5-7 p.m.

passion Vines, 265 New road, Somers point

Join a relaxed and welcoming meet-up where community and connection come first. Whether you’ve been living with multiple sclerosis, newly diagnosed, or looking for guidance and support, this gathering is for you. Come as you are, bring a friend, a question, or your curiosity.

Drive-Thru Flu Clinic

▶Friday, Sept. 19, 1-4 p.m.

Shore physicians Group, 401 bethel road, Somers point Shore physicians Group is helping the community prepare for flu season by offering convenient drive-thru flu vaccine clinics for adults ages 18 and older. Specific vaccines for patients 65+ and individuals at high risk are encouraged to discuss flu vaccine with their primary care provider before attending. SpG patients can schedule their appointment by calling 609-365-6200.

MHA Atlantic Family Meetings

▶tuesday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m. these virtual support groups and educational programs are for individuals with a loved one affected by mental health and/or substance use disorders. Day and evening meetings include stress-reduction, self-care, resources and advocacy. m eetings are held at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth thursday and 7 p.m. every third Wednesday. Contact Gail Christian at 609-652-3800, ext. 0301 or gchristian@mhanj.org to receive a meeting link.

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

Northfield Council rejects chicken ban, considers future regulations

By Julia Train

On tuesday, Sept. 2, Northfield residents rallied together at a City

Council meeting, where a proposed ban of owning chickens citywide would have its second reading.

the measure, however, failed to gain enough support, with four of the seven council members voting against it, two in favor, and one absent.

the discussion over chickens began in July, when the ordinance was introduced for a first reading. At that time, the debate centered around re -

stricting roosters, which can be noisy, while allowing hens, Jackie Kondrk, a community member who owns chickens, said. many residents left that meeting under the impression that chickens would remain permitted with some limitations, but in between the meetings, a document was published stating that the second reading would determine if chickens are banned.

t he push for a ban originated from complaints made to the city and discrepancies within existing ordinances. According to Council member renee Carfagno, Northfield had two conflicting sets of rules on the books, which led to confusion about whether residents could legally keep chickens.

A committee of fewer than 10 members — consisting of city staff, including the clerk, solicitor, zoning and code enforcement, construction office representatives and two council members, including Carfagno — was formed to review the matter.

Complaints received by the city varied. Some residents reported excessive noise; Others raised concerns about chickens wandering beyond property lines, while some expressed fears about rodents being attracted to chicken coops.

Carfagno said determining whether rodents were linked to chickens falls under the county’s jurisdiction rather than the city’s code enforcement.

the initial draft of the ordinance proposed banning new chickens within city limits moving forward, effectively phasing out backyard flocks. However, during public hearings, residents raised questions and concerns that council members and staff were not prepared to answer. Among them was how many complaints had actually been submitted and from how many households. Without clear answers, several council members were unwilling to move ahead with a permanent ban — including Carfagno, who was originally voting for it.

While the ordinance failed, council members did not rule out future regulations. Officials acknowledged that

regulating backyard chickens is complex. Unlike pets such as dogs or cats, it is more difficult to track how many chickens a household owns, whether flocks are expanding, or whether new birds are being brought in.

Carfagno noted that regulating chickens is complicated because, unlike people, who have distinguishing physical traits, chickens are harder to tell apart.

these challenges, combined with unanswered questions from residents, prompted some members to shift away from supporting an outright ban and instead push for further review.

Council typically meets every two weeks throughout most of the year but switches to monthly meetings in July and August. that scheduling contributed to the drawn-out process, as the chicken debate stretched from the summer into September. the city’s chicken committee has not yet put forward a new proposal, but discussions are expected to continue.

For now, chickens remain permitted in Northfield. Officials plan to revisit the issue once more information is available and possible regulations are drafted.

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

Discount store chain to open second local store

Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retail chain with 176 stores across the Northeast and m id-Atlantic, announced it will open a new store at 4215 black Horse pike, Unit 31, in m ays Landing, New Jersey, this fall. the 34,120 square-foot location, formerly occupied by b ig Lots, will be the brand’s 11th store in the state and its second in Atlantic County.

Located in the Hamilton Commons shopping center, the store is the company’s 18th opening in a former b ig Lots location in 2025 and continues OSJL’s repurposing of former retail sites. the company has also acquired several former Christmas tree Shops properties across the Northeast.

"Opening our new mays Landing store is an exciting opportunity for us to bring our unique value-driven shopping experience to residents and

visitors alike,” said mark O’Connor, Director of real estate, Ocean State Job Lot. “With the recent closings of Christmas tree Shops and big Lots, we know there are a lot of people in the area looking for great deals, and we hope they'll come check us out. We're proud to invest in Atlantic County and, with our new mays Landing store complementing our recently

opened Somers point location, we look forward to having an even bigger presence in the community."

OSJL will hire for up to 60 positions, including store leadership, supervisory, full-time, part-time, and seasonal associates. the company offers competitive pay and benefits packages, including flexible hours; medical, vision and dental insurance (if eligible); profit participation; service awards; paid time off; 401(k); 30% store discount and more. OSJL will begin accepting applications for all positions shortly at:

https://about.oceanstatejoblot. com/careers/careers-new-stores/ Job Lot has made its mark in the discount retail segment through opportunistic buying, which allows it to offer a constantly changing assort-

ment of brand-name and closeout merchandise at exceptional values. Customers will find an ever-changing array of household goods, apparel, pet supplies, and seasonal products (patio, pool, and beach gear; lawn and garden essentials; heating and cooling items; holiday décor), as well as kitchen pantry staples and a broad offering of gourmet and international specialty foods.

Margate’s Fall Funfest by The Bay returns

Margate’s annual marquee event, the m argate Fall Funfest by the bay — presented by philadelphia area Lexus Dealers and the margate business Association (mbA) — is back Saturday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Now in its 24th year, and always free admission, Funfest brings fresh and exciting family friendly venues for 2025. thousands of visitors attend Funfest to enjoy the breathtaking family friendly venue along the beautiful bayfront and promenade, and bask in the warm spirit of the people of margate. ed berger, president of the mbA said, “ there simply isn’t a better way to celebrate the change of seasons; family, friends, food, fabulous entertainment and unique crafts, all in a beautiful bayfront setting. It all makes for a perfect fall weekend and we would love to have you enjoy it with us.”

Funfest 2025 brings over 110 booths of spectacular handmade

fine arts and crafts, amusements, mouthwatering foods, margate retailers and major commercial sponsors like Lexus, renewal by Anderson, ACUA, Cutco cutlery and Freedom boat Club. Lexus will have a beautiful luxury vehicle on site to browse and see how you fit behind the wheel. Nonprofit organizations and margate City municipal departments are also represented with fun activities.

there will be plenty of happenings and live performers on the Kids Stage, eleven bands on the main stage, Scott’s Dock Wetlands Wonderland, parades featuring miss New Jersey belle Nicholas, and costumed characters with Storm trooper, Darth Vader, belle and Supercan from the ACUA. A refreshing, bayfront beer garden with plenty of ice-cold selections, and the immensely popular tito’s Handmade Vodka b loody mary tent. Let’s be Frank will be on hand selling their delicious b loody m ary m ix and seasonings. N e W at Funfest 2025 is Shore Axes m obile Axe throwing trailer. Check out their safe, enclosed trailer on Washington Avenue and try to get a handle on the latest in lumberjack skill games. there are regulation axes for adults and a plastic version for kids under age 14.

On Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.,

Steve & Cookies hosts the Dan Gottlieb memorial Dog Show showcasing the best looking, best dressed, most obedient and talented canines in the area. pre-register online at eventbrite or in person 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for just $25. proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City and NJ Aid for Animals. Sponsored by Steve & Cookies and American Harvest Organic Vodka.

t he food selections at Funfest are as plentiful as they are delicious with an eclectic variety to suit everyone’s appetite. At the tacocat Food truck, you can savor a diverse array of tacos, seafood and more, while South Jersey Smoke House serves up mouthwatering smoked sausage with peppers and onions, alongside barbecue favorites like pulled pork, brisket and ribs.

tommy t ’s brings sweet treats with funnel cakes, lemonade and strawberry smoothies. For a nostalgic sip, head to tin Cup Soda Company, where 32 oz. sodas are served in old-fashioned mountain brew tin cups. Sherri’s Crab Cakes of NJ delights with fresh crab cakes, crabcake sandwiches, a Captain’s platter, Crabby mac & Cheese and Cream of Crab Soup. Cool down with fruity, smooth treats from California Frozen Yogurt and Shakes. Vagabond will be there with delicious burgers and more.

Photos by Tom Briglia/PhotoGraphics

Don't forget about the beer garden with their ice-cold autumn inspired brews and traditional favorites and tito’s bloody mary tent that will offer plenty of opportunities to quench anyone’s thirst with handmade tito’s specialties.

entertainment this year on the Kid's Stage will include mesmerizing magic and mentalism in the Street Sorcery Show and the Wild t hrill Stunt e xtravaganza featuring, juggling with knives, object balancing, fire eating and plenty of audience participation. Also performing are the emerald Isle Academy of Irish Dance, and pianist Victoria Dolceamore. An annual favorite, Wetlands Wonderland, examines salt marsh and shore education, a native butterfly display with mary Lanahan, terrapin turtles,

“what’s on the beach?” and Sustainable Downbeach information with a variety of presentations featuring ocean and bay life.

On Sunday, Scott’s Dock hosts eco tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. purchase tickets through Scott’s Dock; call 609-822-6819 to reserve. the fearless dynamos from b lake’s Gymnastics will also wow the crowd with their annual high-flying Funfest performance. Leslie’s Dance Studio’s talented dancers are back at Funfest with precision and high-energy performances.

On the main stage at Jefferson Ave., teddi Fusco kicks off the weekend with her stirring rendition of the Star Spangled banner and a set of pop favorites. then, enjoy two days worth of South Jersey’s hottest

bands covering everything from pop, rock and country hits. Local favorites like Artese N toad, Dan barry, poor m outh Henry, the Chris Yoder band and the Ashcats entertain all afternoon Saturday. On Sunday there’s another full day of music featuring creativity.

then as Saturday rolls into night, Funfest After Dark: Definitely Not for Kids presented by tomatoe’s kicks off featuring wine and spirits tasting and lite bites. After Dark favorites Dead reckoning brings the Washington

able at www.margatehasmore.com. m ust be 21 years of age and older. Free jitney shuttle service is available all along Ventnor and Amherst Avenues and from the parking lot at the eugene tighe School on 7804 Amherst Ave. Just look for the Free

2025

Ocean City air shows highlight the weekend

ll eyes will turn to the sky for Ocean City’s Air Show Weekend on Sept. 13 and 14. All events are free to

the celebration starts with the Ocean City Airport Festival on Saturday (Sept. 13) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the festival features a ground

attend, and the early forecasts call for sunny and clear skies.

display of unusual airplanes ranging from World War II planes to warbirds and classics. the event will feature a parachute jump from team Fastrax, “America’s Skydiving team.” It also will include food vendors, music, vehicle displays and kids’ activities. the skydiving team will perform at the Airport Festival at 12 p.m., depending on wind and weather conditions. Ocean City Council Vice president pete madden is scheduled to make a tandem jump with one of the team professionals.

A half-mile “ runway run/Walk” will return and is open to all ages. It offers a chance for anybody to cover ground normally traversed only by planes. the run will go off immediately after the skydiving jump. Children’s

activities will include airplane and coloring contests between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All-day activities include “ b ubble mania,” face-painting, helicopter rides available for purchase, city vehicle displays and special guests martin and m ollie m ollusk.

t he festival takes place at the m unicipal Airport at 26th Street and bay Avenue. Additional parking for the festival will be available at Shelter road (off tennessee Avenue) with free shuttle service provided.

the Parachute Pyrotechnic Show will go off over Ocean City at 8 p.m.

Saturday (Sept. 13).the show consists of several highly trained and specially licensed team Fastrax parachuters exiting an aircraft 6,000 feet above Ocean City’s beach and boardwalk. b rilliant white or multi-colored projectile pyrotechnics are then ignited as the parachuters fly in formation, creating a dazzling display for spectators on the ground. the jump will end with a landing on the Seventh Street beach and will be viewable along the entire boardwalk. ↘Continued on 26

↘Continued from 25

t he Boardwalk Aerobatic Air Show will bring some of the best stunt pilots and aerobatic champions in the nation to put on a show over the beach and boardwalk starting at 1 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 14).

t his year’s show will welcome team Fastrax, Kevin russo, the Jersey Jerks, rick Volker, the NextGen eagles, robert “ rooster” Schmidle, the Coast Guard and a flyover of a KC-46A pegasus from Joint b ase m cGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

thousands of spectators typically soak up some of the final days of the calendar summer as they watch the spectacle from the beach and boardwalk. the show is best viewed from the area between Fifth Street and 14th Street. there is no rain date for any of the shows, and air performances may be canceled if weather conditions do not allow for safe flying.

9/11 ceremony set for Thursday evening

Ocean City’s annual “A Day to re -

member” 9/11 memorial ceremony begins at 6 p.m. thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, outdoors in front of the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters between Fifth Street and Sixth Street on Asbury Avenue. All are encouraged to attend.

t he ceremony includes music, prayer and reflections on the memory of lives lost and on the community spirit that was renewed in the wake of the tragedy. the event includes the Striking of the Four Fives, a fire service tradition noting the death of a firefighter in the line of duty.

this year’s speakers will include m ayor Jay Gillian, police Chief b ill Campbell, Fire Chief b ernie Walker and tunnel to towers Foundation Ambassador Gerard Lynch.

For more information, call 609399-6111.

Also coming up in September

Carmina Burana performed by the Ocean City Pops (Sept. 13): the pops performs one of the greatest symphonic choral works ever written. 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City m usic pier. tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-3996111.

Ocean City, NJ Jeep Invasion (Sept. 20): Jeeps will be displayed on the boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www. NJJeepInvasion.com.

OCNJ Half Marathon, 5k & 10 Mile Non-Competitive Walk/Run

(Sept. 21): Choose your distance and participate in one of New Jersey’s favorite race events. Advance registration required for the half marathon. Sign up early to save on registration

fees at www.ocnj.us/ race- events. MS City to Shore Ride (Sept. 27-28): About 7,000 cyclists raise millions of dollars through a two-day

charity ride from the philadelphia area to Ocean City and back. For more information, call 1-800-445- b IKe or visit www.mscycling.org.

Ahoy! The Ocean City Free Public Library has something for everyone this summer, from best-selling books to workshops, and from online resources to children’s activities. Visit OceanCityLibrary.org for a complete list of events and resources.

Locals summer safety guide: Where to find guarded beaches

Family Tides

By Madison Russ

At the Shore, summer is far from over after Labor Day passes. For year-round residents, September marks the start of one of the best seasons of all: locals summer. the crowds thin, the weather stays warm, and the beaches become blissfully quiet. but quieter beach days don’t necessarily mean safer waters. rough surf and rip currents remain a risk for those hoping to sneak in a postseason swim, and with many lifeguards heading back to school or their hometowns, most beaches close after the holiday. A handful of towns do keep guards on duty, though often at a limited capacity.

Here’s a look at which beaches will still have lifeguards staffing the stands:

Brigantine

Like most Shore towns, b rigantine has reduced lifeguard coverage during the postseason. brigantine City beach patrol will have guards on 2nd Street North, 15th Street South and 27th Street South during the weekend of Sept. 13-14. For more information,

follow brigantine City beach patrol on Facebook or visit brigantinebeach.org.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City beaches will have limited lifeguard coverage through the end of September. the Atlantic City beach patrol offers a handy real-time map through the Safe b each Day website showing which streets have coverage, guard hours and current surf conditions, including wave heights and water temperature. Users can toggle between uptown and downtown. Check daily to see which beaches are guarded by visiting atlanticcitybeachpatrol.com.

Ventnor City

Lifeguards will be on duty seven days a week through Sept. 14, at the following beaches: Suffolk, Dorset, New Haven and Lafayette avenues. m ore information is available at ventnorcity. org/departments/beachpatrol.

Margate City

margate beaches were open at select locations this past weekend and will have guards on again the weekend of Sept. 13-14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lifeguards are expected at Clermont, Huntington and Cedar Grove avenues, and possibly Jefferson Avenue, depending on guard availability. this weekend will likely be the last of the season. to confirm beach openings, call the margate City beach patrol headquarters at 609-822-2370 or visit margate City’s Facebook page.

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

Longport

Lifeguards will be on duty at 16th, 26th, 30th and 33rd avenues through Sept. 14. From Sept. 20-21, weather permitting, guards will return to the same locations. Dates and locations are subject to change due to staffing. Check out the Longport beach patrol Facebook page for updates or visit longportnj.gov.

Ocean City

Ocean City beaches will have lifeguards on duty at select locations through Sept. 14. Guarded beaches include St. Charles place, 8th, 9th, 12th, 34th and 58th streets.

the Ocean City beach patrol website notes that lifeguard stands may not be exactly at street ends, as guards position them in the safest areas depending on water conditions. For more information, call 609-525-9200 or visit ocnj.us/OCbp

Strathmere

All Strathmere beaches will be closed after Labor Day, but lifeguards will be on duty at tecumseh, putnam and 1400 avenues Sept. 13-14, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., according to the Upper township b each patrol website.

Open beaches are subject to change in case of bad weather. to confirm lifeguard coverage, call 609-263-1151.

Sea Isle City

b eaches with lifeguards on duty change from day to day, depending on the availability of guards. A limited number of Sea Isle City beaches will have lifeguards on duty on weekends only for the rest of the month. there is no weekday coverage.

each weekend morning, the operational lifeguard stands are listed on the Sea Isle City beach patrol’s website

sicbp.com. For more information, call 609-263-3655.

Avalon

Avalon beach patrol will be on duty weekends only through Sept. 14. there is no weekday coverage. According to the city’s Facebook page, all beaches normally staffed during the summer will be guarded Sept. 13-14. beach tags are no longer required. For more information, visit avalonboro. net or the city’s Facebook page.

North Wildwood

Closed for the season, but a response team will be available until Sept. 28.

Wildwood

Closed for the season.

Wildwood Crest

Closed for the season.

Cape May

Cape may beach patrol will have lifeguards on duty seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 28, with a limited number of beaches open. One of Cape may’s most popular spots, the Cove, is expected to remain guarded through the end of the season. For the most up-to-date information on which beaches are open, call 609-884-9520.

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.

Corvettes on the Ocean City boardwalk draw large crowds despite rain

By Steffen Klenk

Grey skies and steady rain couldn’t keep car enthusiasts away from the Ocean City boardwalk on Sunday as the city hosted its annual boardwalk Corvette Show

m ore than 300 cars were registered this year, representing models from the 1950s to today. Despite the forecast, Corvette owners lined up

their vehicles along the boardwalk between 5th and 14th streets, while spectators carrying umbrellas admired the display and talked with fellow collectors.

the annual show is presented by boardwalk Corvettes of Atlantic City and is considered one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the region. While the rain may have dampened the turnout among casual visitors, many longtime participants said the tradition of showcasing Corvettes by the beach was worth braving the conditions.

Awards were presented in multiple categories, ranging from best vintage, modern, and custom design. Organizers expressed their gratefulness for the amazing turnout and participation given Sunday’s weather.

the annual boardwalk Corvette Show is one of the many highlights in Ocean City during the fall season. No matter the forecast, this event continued a long-time legacy of celebrating one of America’s most iconic sports cars.

Photos by Steffen Klenk

HEROWALK

Enjoying ‘locals summer’ in the September garden

By Tammy Thornton

Those of us living near the coast know that September, dubbed “locals summer,” brings a time of refreshment when we can exhale and reclaim our beaches, grocery stores,

Events

and parking spots. In the same way, after a summer of little rain and multiple heat waves, we can almost hear our garden breathe an audible sigh of relief in September.

During the dog days of summer, some flowers take a break from blooming as a form of self-defense. Once temperatures cool down a bit, you will see roses and other flowers perk up and rebloom. Vegetables that have stopped producing will give you a new crop, and you can look forward to a newly ripened tomato while grabbing handfuls of fresh basil before they go to seed. We reach that

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

SEPT. 12–13

Boots at the Beach

NJ State Firemen’s Convention, Fire Expo & Parade

SEPT. 13 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

SEPT. 18

Irish Boxing Exhibition

SEPT. 19–21

Irish Fall Festival

Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show

SEPT. 20

Seafarers Celebration

SEPT. 26–27

Monsters on the Beach Monster Truck Races

Olde Time Italian Festival

OCT. 3–4 Run the Crest

OCT. 3–5 Race of Gentlemen

Wildwood RV Show

OCT. 17–18

Wildwoods ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Weekend

WILDWOODS ISLAND SHUTTLE—LEAVE THE DRIVING TO US

Jitney service from Diamond Beach to Olde New Jersey Avenue ... and everywhere in between!

Download the free Jitney Surfer app.

Plan your visit today and enter to win a free family vacation.

WILDWOODSNJ.COM 800.992.9732

sweet spot weather-wise when temperatures remain warm enough for annuals and tropicals to survive, but the blazing heat of July and August has relented. meanwhile, late summer and early fall bloomers arrive on the scene. After a healthy dose of rain, your refreshed garden throws an end-of-summer meet-and-greet as the seasons begin to overlap, and you get to be the honored guest enjoying the fruit and flowers of both.

September in the garden also provides a time of peace to simply enjoy what you have created. We no longer need to run around with the hose, constantly watering our wilted plants, hoping they survive. Instead, we take a leisurely stroll, taking in the fragrance of our favorite flowers and cutting a few of the best for an indoor arrangement. We transition from deadheading our flowers to patiently waiting and allowing them to go to seed. Our fall tasks can wait while we take quiet notes of our successes and consider small changes for the future. In the evening garden, we seek the magical sight of moonflowers secretly blooming as we listen to the serenade of katydids hoping to woo a mate.

Cooler temperatures in South Jersey also mean you can plant new perennials and divide older plants that have overgrown. Choose a cool overcast day – ideally with rain in the forecast. During hot days in the summer, new plants will be vulnerable to stress and may not survive being transplanted. b ut cool, late summer and early fall days provide the perfect conditions for planting. t his will enable your plants to establish their roots before the cold of winter arrives. You will prepare your new perennial with the proper groundwork for its three-year plan to sleep, creep, and leap. In the first year,

a perennial seems to “sleep”, since most of the work is unseen, occurring underground as a healthy plant will be working to establish its roots. In year two, you will see signs of life above ground as your perennial begins to “creep”, and new foliage and flowers will appear, showing that the roots are growing stronger. by year three, your patience will be rewarded as your perennial seems to “leap” as it spreads out and reaches maturity. Hopefully, you have time this September to enjoy a locals summer. A more relaxed chore list for the garden should allow you a balanced mix of beach time and garden time. And life doesn’t get much sweeter than that.

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

When the weather cools down, refreshed roses and other flowers will rebloom.

Emerald Isle Academy of Irish Dance

Blake's Gymnastics

Street Sorcery Show

Wild thrill Stunt Extravaganza

Wetlands Wonderland - Scott’s Dock

Sustainable Downbeach Displays

Police Activities League ROADS Challenge team invited to Kennedy Space Center

PAL enforcers Artemis III rover Observation And Discoveries in Space (rOADS) Challenge team has achieved an extraordinary milestone by being one of only eight middle school teams (thirteen teams total) nationwide invited to the prestigious Kennedy Space Center in Florida. this invitation came as a reward for completing all eight mission objectives (m Os) in the Artemis III rOADS Challenge. t he team successfully completed all m Os and submitted virtually. three hundred thirty-three teams initially registered for the rOADS Challenge nationwide with only 139 teams completing their m Os and submitting their final mission Development Log (m DL).

Organized by the Northwest earth and Space Sciences pipeline (NeSSp), the rOADS Challenge tasks students with designing and executing mission objectives simulating real NASA objectives and upcoming missions. the 2024-2025 challenge focused on the upcoming Artemis III mission, which will return astronauts to the lunar surface.

the pAL enforcers Artemis middle school team showcased exceptional teamwork, creativity, research and technical skill as they planned and carried out mission objectives such as growing food on the moon, investigating water on earth and the moon, creating their own mission patch, ↘Continued on

designing a human rated rocket and roving under the moon. As part of the yearlong challenge, teams were invited to virtually attend NASA expert talks with a Lunar Geotechnical Scientist, planetary Scientist and mission patch Specialist.

“ this has been an incredible journey,” said michelle Stella riordan, pAL enforcers Artemis III team mentor. “ this team worked tirelessly to learn about NASA’s plan to return to the moon. they have shown true innovation, teamwork and determination to complete their mission objectives. b eing invited to Kennedy Space Center is a once in a lifetime reward for their hard work. We covered a lot of topics, and I could not be prouder of them!”

team members included Ava and emma Abdrabouh from Galloway township, Jane Heng from Ocean City, ela Comlekciogullari, Sandhana rajesh and Srejon Sikder (could not attend the trip) from egg Harbor township

facility and the opportunity to engage with like-minded students. this accomplishment not only highlights their passion for space exploration but also underscores the importance of S tem education and youth engagement in shaping the future of science and discovery. besides touring Kennedy Space Center, the team visited Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and watched two rocket launches (1

daytime and 1 nighttime launch)

Now Offering GOLF LESSONS on Our Range

“S.t. e . m . education opportunities are more important than ever,” stated Hector tavarez, executive director of the police Activities League of egg Harbor township and Atlantic County. “ b esides teaching critical thinking skills, kids can also develop a passion for innovation. S.t e m . gives our kids the skills that will make them more employable and ready to meet the current labor demand which is important in our complex and ever-changing world.”

the trip to Kennedy Space Center in August offered the team a behind the scenes look at a renowned NASA

N eSSp serves as a “virtual NASA center” for residents of the U.S.’s northwest — covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho and m ontana. NASA centers have traditionally acted as hubs for professional development for educators, access points for NASA educational materials, and onsite experiences for educators and students. Northwest earth and Space Sciences pathways is funded by the NASA Science mission Directorate.

Jersey takes over Manhattan Bagel business gets new owners, new name, adds ice cream store in Northfield

Business Buzz

By Rich Baehrle

Long-time bagel business manhattan bagels, located for years at 1205 tilton road in Northfield, has changed hands. Well-known entrepreneur Karol Kulakowski and his partner, bobbie todorov, seized a great opportunity in taking over manhattan bagels.

the new entity, now called Jersey Hot bagels, has also expanded to include a homemade ice cream business called route 9 Creamery.

Karol and bobbie are not new to the food world. they have owned a local favorite sandwich shop, Chico and Sons in Northfield, for the past six years and have developed anreputation as one of the best sandwich

a chance to capture the breakfast market as well. the store’s tremendous tilton road location enhances the likelihood that they will be successful.

they offer huge sandwiches with fresh ingredients. Karol said, “the customers have been raving about the delicious flavors of the bagels, some of which are only available at Jersey Hot bagels.”

bagel flavors include wild blueberry, cinnamon raisin, carrot cake, a customer favorite french toast, jalapeno and many more with spreads like hot butter, homemade cream cheese, and flavored cream cheese available.

Once you try them you will definitely be back for more.

Group options include orders of six, 12 or 24 bagels, with tubs of your favorite toppings, a lox platter or coffee to-go for up to 18 people. there is also a complete line of homemade, mouthwatering breakfast and lunch sandwiches that people are raving about.

Signature sandwiches include the m orris (ham, swiss cheese, spicy

cheese, fried onions on a seeded roll); and the bergen (pork roll, bacon, fried egg, peppers, onions and American cheese), among many more choices.

breakfast bagels are named after local towns such as the Atlantic City (pork roll, two fried eggs, American cheese); the Ventnor (cream cheese, grilled veggies, lettuce, tomato); the m argate (smoked salmon, cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, capers); the Northfield (bacon, two fried eggs, provolone cheese), and the Linwood (avocado, feta cheese, fried egg and pickled onions).

t here is something for every taste. You are going to have to stop in to see what the Jersey Hot bagel combinations are for yourself. each sandwich is a fresh, unique blend only found at Jersey Hot bagels.

If you are searching for delicious items for lunch, you can expect a creative variety as well.

Lunch highlights, named after local landmarks, include the Lucy (sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, thousand island, swiss cheese); the

(bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo), and the battleship (homemade chicken salad, bacon, lettuce and tomato), plus many others.

For a different vibe, you can check out the route 9 Creamery at the same location, which offers homemade organic ice cream flavors such as lemoncello, cherries and cream, ube coconut, apple pie, banana, Oreo, Ferrero rocher, peanut butter, Stewart orange cream and many more. they are sure to satisfy your sweet taste buds.

t he only way to find out how great the flavors are is to stop in and try one of each at 1205 tilton road, Northfield.

For details on the route 9 Creamery find them on Facebook. For Jersey Hot bagels see www.jerseyhotbagels.com. For both businesses call 609-646-3604.

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

Remembering, reflecting and rising: Lessons from 9/11, 24 years later

By Robin Stoloff

Twenty-four years ago, I held my one-year-old son close, unable to stop the tears. t he world felt smaller, darker, and unbearably fragile. For many of us who lived through Sept. 11, 2001, that day is etched into our memories. We remember where we were, who we were with, and the overwhelming flood of fear and uncertainty. the images on television were relentless: the towers collapsing into rubble, people covered in white ash running for their lives, first responders racing to help, white dust and mangled steel, faces stained with tears and terror. In recalling these scenes, I can almost feel the hopelessness and profound sadness

that stayed with me for months after that horrific day. For parents, the fear was magnified by thoughts of the world our children would inherit. For soldiers, first responders, and civilians alike, the trauma left invisible scars, echoes that are still felt today.

While the anniversary of 9/11 often brings grief and reflection, it also serves as a reminder of how profoundly trauma can shape our lives. trauma is not reserved for a single moment or event. It can accumulate over time, a slow drip of worry, fear, and stress, or hit all at once with devastating intensity. For many, repeated exposure to distressing news and images, which some experts call “oversaturation,” can intensify that trauma, leaving people anxious, numb, or perpetually on edge. Soldiers returning from deployment, first responders, and even civilians watching the news 24/7 can experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or ptSD, which

may include flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and emotional numbness.

Oversaturation of bad news is not new. However, in the modern digital age, it has become overwhelming. Social media, 24-hour cable news, and instant notifications can make it feel as if every tragedy is happening right outside our front doors. For those already carrying trauma, this constant bombardment can worsen anxiety and intensify feelings of helpless -

ness. even those who never experienced the original trauma may feel its effects through secondary stress, a phenomenon sometimes called vicarious trauma.

So what can we do? the first step in coping with trauma and news overload is simply acknowledging it. Understand that your reactions are normal and that your body and mind are responding to stress in real time. Whether it’s heightened alertness, trouble sleeping, irritability, or sudden waves of sadness, these are signals that something in your environment has activated your body’s survival instincts. For soldiers and first responders, these reactions can be intensified by training and experiences in high-pressure situations, while parents may feel the weight of stress as they worry about their children’s safety and future.

Setting boundaries with media consumption is critical. It’s natural to want to stay informed, but there is a

Photo credit: Roberto Robanne/AP

difference between awareness and immersion. Consider limiting news intake to specific times of day, unfollowing sources that trigger anxiety, or choosing reliable outlets that focus on facts without sensationalism. m indful engagement, rather than constant exposure, allows your nervous system to rest.

Community support also plays a powerful role. In the aftermath of 9/11, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces became hubs of shared grief and resilience. talking with others who understand your experience, friends, family, or support groups can help process emotions and reduce feelings of isolation. For soldiers and first responders, peer support and professional counseling are essential tools for managing ptSD symptoms and preventing burnout.

Daily routines that nurture body and mind are equally important. physical activity, proper sleep, and a balanced diet help regulate stress hormones and boost resilience. mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or journaling can provide a safe space to process overwhelming feelings. even simple acts, a walk on the beach, listening to calming music, or spending uninterrupted time with loved ones, can counterbalance the chaos of external stressors.

It’s also important to acknowledge that healing does not mean forgetting. trauma does not vanish, but we can learn to live with it, build coping strategies, and find meaning in recovery. m any survivors of 9/11, first responders, and veterans report that giving back, through volunteering, mentoring, or advocacy, helps transform trauma into purpose. b y supporting others, we not only strengthen our communities but also cultivate resilience in ourselves.

For parents, how we cope with

trauma impacts our kids. Children are growing up in a world that can still feel uncertain, and they watch closely how we handle fear and challenges. by responding with calm and composure, keeping conversations open, and modeling healthy self-care, we can teach them coping skills and resilience that can last a lifetime. twenty-four years later, my son is now grown, but the memory of that September morning remains vivid. Since that time, we have all lived through countless other trag-

ic events, and even some personal tragedies. While uncertainty in the world hasn’t disappeared, we can temper it with tools, strategies, and connections. We can learn to protect our mental health, to limit exposure to constant bad news, to rely on the comfort of family and friends, and to acknowledge our feelings without letting them define us. trauma may leave its mark, but it does not have to dictate the quality of our lives.

Whether you are a soldier, a first responder, a parent, or someone processing personal trauma, the challenge remains the same: navigating a world filled with reminders of pain while cultivating practices that sustain hope, resilience, and well-being. by acknowledging the weight of our experiences, setting boundaries, seeking support, and caring for our bodies and minds, we can move forward, not forgetting, but learning to live fully and meaningfully despite the memories of our past.

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

New fitness center helps women find their strength and sparkle in Galloway

By Delaney Crawford

The Galloway community is about to shine a little brighter. Lift & Glitz training Studio, the all-women training hub that has already empowered countless women, is expanding with a brand-new location in Galloway.

Known for its high-energy classes, supportive environment, private training, and the kind of camaraderie that turns workouts into celebrations, Lift & Glitz is bringing double the workouts, double the trainers, and double the vibes to a whole new community.

t his expansion marks not just growth for the studio, but an exciting opportunity for women across our area to find strength, confidence, and fun.

rachel King, owner and founder of Lift & Glitz, first opened the studio in December 2015 at its current Northfield location, 549 tilton road. but in its early days, it looked very different from what it is today.

“In 2015 I opened as a franchise, a test drive between me and my partner at the time,” King explained. “ that place was a similar concept to what we do now, but I always knew I wanted to build the studio differently. A few years later, I had the opportunity to branch off on my own, and that’s when I started testing what the studio could truly provide. It took about five years to perfect.”

the name Lift & Glitz and the full concept, as it’s known today, officially came to life in 2018. Since then, King has honed her business model and decided it was time to expand.

“ personally, I’m always looking for what’s next for Lift & Glitz,” she said. “I want to spread my business to every community possible because I want all women to have access to a space like ours to work out in.”

Lift & Glitz is the only all-women training studio in the region with a

In Today’s Fast Paced Real Estate Market. It Is Even More Important To Choose The Right Agent To Represent You! Over 40 Years of Real Estate Expertise, Knowledge, and Experience to Assist You!

• ABR-Accredited Buyer Representative- Expert Negotiator To Get You The Home That You Want !

• CRS-Certified Residential Specialist-To Optimize The Highest Sales Price For Your Home and Get SOLD Quickly!

• GRI-Graduate Realtor Institute-Continuing Education and Technology Like No Other!

• MRP-Military and Relocation Specialist-Proficient in All Aspects of Veteran and Active Military Real Estate!

• Full Time Awarded Professional Realtor Since 1985

• NJ Real Estate Broker Since 1989!

• Lifetime Membership in the New Jersey Association of Realtors Distinguished Sales Club and National Association of Realtors.

Your

mission to provide a safe space where women can feel confident, supported, and capable of reaching their health and fitness goals.

King admitted that taking the leap into expansion wasn’t easy. “ t here’s never going to be that exact right time,” she said. “I just knew it was time to evolve. I felt very strongly that we had perfected the model at Northfield, not only the business model but also the way classes are performed, the schedule, everything. Once I felt confident that the model was where it needed to be, it was time to bring it to other areas. Now we can keep growing and adding more locations.”

the Galloway studio, located at 68 W Jimmie Leeds road, officially opened its doors on Sept. 8, following a week of open-house hours.

Classes will be the same as what’s offered in Northfield with strength training circuits, functional HII t training, booty bootcamp, and a mix of specialty classes at various times. While the machine equipment may vary slightly between the two studios, the format, energy, and supportive environment will remain the same. m embers can choose from different tiers of membership, some of which allow them to attend classes at both locations.

As for trainers, some will remain full time in Northfield, others will launch Galloway’s schedule, and a few will float between both. regardless, members can expect the same high-energy, encouraging trainers and atmosphere that defines the Lift & Glitz brand.

With classes underway and the community’s warm response, King is already looking ahead. As membership continues to grow in Galloway, so will the class schedule, eventually becoming as full as Northfield’s.

“I hope we fit in well here,” King said. “I hope that Lift & Glitz is the missing puzzle piece for this Galloway community.”

Community has always been central to the Lift & Glitz brand. At the Northfield location, King regularly collaborates with local businesses, hosting pop-up shops that spotlight small business owners. While those events won’t roll out immediately in Galloway, she’s eager to eventually bring that same spirit of collaboration to the new studio. She also has her sights set on partnerships with Stockton University and AtlantiCare.

After nearly a decade in business, King knows growth takes time. Northfield took patience and persistence to fully establish, and she hopes Galloway’s membership will grow even faster thanks to Lift & Glitz’s proven success. but more than numbers, King is excited to welcome new women into a safe, empowering space.

“ my favorite part is seeing women walk in for the first time and realizing this space is just for them,” she said. “A lot of women who join haven’t worked out in years and just need guidance and support. We’re able to be that place where they find it.”

Looking ahead, King envisions continued growth, with future locations and an expanded focus on wellness and recovery. In fact, she hopes to open a third location before 2026.

“I hope women take away that fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all,” King said. “Within these four walls, you’ll not only find motivation but also inspiration to make health and fitness a true lifestyle.”

Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. After earning a BA in Communications, Delaney built a successful career in the newspaper industry, honing skills in, news writing, media, and content creation. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DC's Social Media & Content Creation, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.

Rachel King, owner and founder of Lift & Glitz

Entertainment & Dining at the Shore

Top Weekly Entertainment Picks

By Steffen Klenk

The weekend is here and there are plenty of festivities coming up this weekend. pack your beach chair for the final beach concert of the season in Somers point, bring your appetite for the Downbeach Seafood Festival, see t he Who in concert at b oardwalk Hall, or join an epic eagles watch-party on the beach. Whether you’re planning your weekend or confirming the date, it’s all in this week’s entertainment picks.

What : Downbeach Seafood Festival

Where: Ski beach, Ventnor

When : Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14

Time: Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Website: www.downbeachseafoodfest.com

South Jersey’s original seafood festival returns for a full weekend

of delicious eats, fantastic entertainment and an amazing atmosphere. Dozens of local restaurants will serve up their signature dishes, with live music to keep the festive atmosphere alive. plus, take an oyster tour of the shore, enjoy fantastic brews and check out the vendors on-site.

Who: t he Who: t he Song is Over Farewell tour

Where: Jim Whelan boardwalk Hall

When : Friday, Sept. 12

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Website: www.boardwalkhall.com/ events/detail/the-who-farewell-tour Don’t miss this incredible night of rock in Atlantic City as the Who takes the stage. Hear the incredible vocals of roger Daltrey and the electric guitar of pete townshend on one stage

as part of the band’s farewell tour. All tickets from the original Aug. 23 to the rescheduled date will be honored.

What : Legacy beach Concert featuring mitch r yder

Where : William m orrow b each, Somers point

When : Friday, Sept. 12

Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.tonymart.com

Don’t put away your beach chairs just yet. the final free beach concert of the season will take place this Friday in Somers point, featuring multi-million selling classic rock star, m itch r yder, known for such hits as “Devil with the blue Dress” and “C.C. rider,” among others. r yder will perform with the tony m art Allstars, with a special opening set by South Jersey’s own twisted Livin’ band.

What : Ghost mart

Where: Anchor rock Club

When : Friday, Sept. 12

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.anchorrockclub.com

this lively night market features up to 20 vendors selling unique and original items, while the hottest bands and DJs perform live. Whether you’re looking for eclectic gifts from local vendors or a night of dancing, this event is for you. the night market will take place from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., followed by a DJ dance party.

What : parachute p yrotechnic Show

Where: Ocean City boardwalk

When : Saturday, Sept. 13

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.oceancityvacation. com/events-calendar/parachute-pyrotechnic-show-3/

this pyrotechnic display consists of several highly trained and licensed demonstrators from team Fastrax. Watch as they fly in formation and present a multi-colored pyrotechnic display while flying 6,000 feet over the Ocean City beach and boardwalk. the show will be viewable throughout the entire boardwalk, with a landing at Seventh Street.

What : I Love the ’90s tour

Where: Hard rock Live at etess Arena

When : Saturday, Sept. 13

Time: 8 p.m.

Website : https://casino.hardrock.

com/atlantic-city/event-calendar/ilove-the-90s

Step back in time and experience the golden era of hip-hop and r&b during this extraordinary show. See Vanilla Ice, montell Jordan, rob base, Young m C and Joe Denim on stage for the ultimate ’90s throwback concert of the year.

What : boardwalk Aerobatic Show

Where: Ocean City beach and boardwalk

When : Sunday, Sept. 14 Times: 1 p.m.

Website: www.oceancityvacation.

com/events-calendar/boardwalk-aerobatic-airshow-3/

Grab your beach chair and prepare for a spectacular afternoon of high-flying action, featuring some of the best stunt pilots and aerobatic champions in the world, along with military flyovers and Coast Guard demonstrations. t he show will be viewable along the entire beach and boardwalk.

What : eagles tailgate on brigantine beach

Where: 14th Street beach

When : Sunday, Sept. 14

Time: 4:25 p.m.

Website: www.brigantinechamber.com/ e agles-tailgate-on-the- beach

Football Sunday is back and the eagles are set to take on the Chiefs in an epic rematch. Show off your philly pride and watch all the action on the beach in brigantine while soaking in the ocean breeze and an unbeatable game day atmosphere. Hosted by the brigantine Chamber of Commerce.

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.

Fresh local seafood takes center stage at Downbeach Seafood Festival with music and coastal fun

By Scott Cronick

No one appreciates summer like I do, but the fall at the shore does have its upsides: fewer people at the beach, less traffic, easier to get reservations at your favorite restaurants, and festivals galore. Yes, locals summer is here.

And while summer may not officially be over by the time the Downbeach Seafood Festival hits Ski beach in Ventnor on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, the fall bells are ringing hard.

the greatest seafood festival in South Jersey returns — as you have now come to expect from anything Good t ime tricyle Founder and events producer Jon Henderson is involved with — better than ever.

Not bigger, mind you, but better.

And that’s intentional.

“We started off in 2012 in Atlantic City and would attract about 30,000 people,” Henderson said of the event when it was held at bader Field. “In 2019, we moved it over to Ventnor to Ski beach, which turned out to be a really intimate setting for it, and it ended up being its forever home. It’s a celebration of the treasures of the ocean. everybody who’s there is either a restaurant or a fishery or a food truck right here in New Jersey and South Jersey. It’s important to us that as the season kind of wraps up, we give local culinary folks an opportunity to put an extra few clams in the coffer.”

So, size doesn’t matter?

In this case, not really.

“Is it as gigantic as it once was? No, but it gives this great, intimate, green space feel right there on the water,” Henderson said. “ t here’s trees, there’s manicured green grass under your feet. there’s no charge for parking. So, there are a lot, a lot of little wins.”

According to its press release, the Downbeach Seafood Fest is more than a tasting event, the Downbeach Seafood Festival is an invitation to explore Atlantic County through the lens of its food, people and traditions. Visitors will find the laid-back rhythm of beach life perfectly balanced with vibrant culinary offerings, Jersey-made

craft beer, chef-led cooking demos, and the sounds of live music filling the air. Locally crafted art, interactive exhibits, family-friendly activities and sand sculpting add even more texture to this dynamic weekend.

Grub it up

Like any seafood festival worth its Old bay seasoning salt, the main attraction is the food, and this year’s stellar lineup of restaurants and food trucks is perhaps the most impressive yet.

think everything from lobster empanadas to ceviche, crab and salmon cakes, lobster rolls, seafood tacos … if it can be made with seafood it’s probably on the menu. And, yes, there are plenty of options for you landlubbers out there, from cheesesteaks to chicken parm.

Standouts include back bay Ale House from Atlantic City, bacon on a Stick — which will also offer scallops this year, too! — Chef m ichael

brennan’s Cardinal from Atlantic City, Cousins maine Lobster, Dak Daddy’s Oyster Shack — my favorite oysters in the state — Decadence Food truck, Del toro tapas, House of Cupcakes, Ike’s Famous Crabcakes, Chef bobby Hettmansperger’s always fantastic Il porcellino from egg Harbor township, Jay’s Crab Shack, Las Olas, p.J. buckets, the Queen bean bistro, Star of the Sea Seafood, Vagabond and one of my favorites, tacoCat, where I highly recommend the shrimp or mahi tacos (or both!).

there are a bunch of new faces offering seafood this year, including 279 Social Kitchen & Craft bar (formerly romanelli’s) from Galloway, the new Ventnor restaurant Drift, Italian seafood from L’Acquario and Scallops Shack Farms.

As part of National Hunger Action m onth, the festival continues its partnership with the Community Food bank of New Jersey with the always-popular “Chowder Cook-

Off,” where guests can make a $10 donation and sample a wide variety of chowders from area restaurants and cast their votes for the best bowl. All proceeds from the Cook-Off go directly toward providing meals for families in need, with the 2025 goal set to surpass $5,000, enough to provide roughly 15,000 meals across the state.

“ this year, we’ve got 21 restaurants participating,” Henderson said. “So, if you think about it: It’s 21 restaurants, and you’re trying 2 ounces of chowder. that’s a lot of chowder. And all the money goes to the Food b ank. In my opinion, the Food bank is easily the most valuable charity partner in our market. they feed people.”

Last year also marked the debut of “ the Oyster tour of the Shore,” and it returns in a big way as it allows guests to sample oysters harvested

↘Continued on 48

from waters up and down the coast and meet the farmers who cultivated them to learn the art of oyster shucking from professionals at the Demo Stage presented by Cape Harbor Shellfish. Featured oyster farms are Cape may Salts, Sloop point Oyster Co., m cGee’s Shellfish, Salty Soul Oyster Co., Sapphire Shoals Oysters and tucker Island Oysters.

“It’s an immersive addition to the event’s mission of honoring the bounty of the sea and the hardworking individuals behind it,” Henderson said. “We bring in six oyster farms, and for $25, you get 12, which is well below market value, and you’re going to meet and have a conversation with each of these oyster farmers and see the difference between Salty Souls and Cape may Salts and others. the oyster farmers are shucking and talking about their whole culture, creating a very cool experience. the whole oyster culture from coast to coast is different, the mouth feel is different, the flavors are different. try the different oysters and you can really get a taste for the different regions and oysters. Water matters.”

More than just food

there are more festivals than not that line up food trucks and vendors and call it a “festival,” but the Down -

beach Seafood Festival truly lives up to its name.

that’s why, other than the aforementioned chowder cookoff and oyster sampling, there’s food and booze tastings, live music, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, a crab cake eating competition and so much more.

“I don’t subscribe to the ‘If you build it, they will come scenario’,” Henderson said. “I think people need distractions. people need entertainment. these things need layers, and

to just do something kind of one dimensionally doesn’t work. It just doesn’t work. there’s just so much out there that is fighting for your attention. people want more for their dollar. they want more for the hour, two, three, four hours they’re going to spend with you. So, if you layer all that, you stand a better chance of success. You stand a chance of people talking about you. You stand a chance of people having a better overall experience.”

this year, festivalgoers can hula hoop, check out the interactive butterfly garden, get your face painted, learn how to cook seafood properly and creatively, enjoy beer and wine tastings and witness — or participate — in the Crab Cake eating Competition presented by Jay’s Crab Shack.

“ t his is something we’ve done since we started the festival,” Henderson said. “We take six people, and they have to eat five crab cakes in 4 minutes. Winner gets $100. everybody else gets lunch. Dude, it’s aggressive. I couldn’t do it.”

Of course, beer is a major part of any Good time tricycle production. the creators of the Atlantic City beer & m usic Festival will offer “Great b rews of New Jersey” at the seafood fest, the tasting tent becomes a mini beer fest where 12 of New Jersey’s favorite breweries offer 10 tastings for just 10 bucks.

Also — and these are personal recommendations — hunt down brian Ireland from Alibi Gin and devour some of his oyster shooters, and have your iphone camera ready for a selfie

with matt Deibert’s sand creations.

entertainment plays a major part of the festival, too, including the South pacific Island Dancers on both days. Saturdays music lineup includes Yanni the band, Funk Daddy and DJ rashaun, while Sunday’s offerings are party Wave, the Wayouts and DJ patrice m cbride.

What’s next?

When you look at the evolution of the Seafood Fest over the last dozen years or so, it’s hard not to be impressed.

It transformed from a festival that relied too much on fried frozen

seafood and “carny” vendors offering very little locally farmed seafood to its present form as a local seafood mecca featuring amazing South Jersey chefs. So, what does Henderson & Co. have in store for us seafood lovers in the years to come?

“I would like to see us really showcase the fisheries of South Jersey,” Henderson said. “We started that with the ‘Oyster tour,’ and I want to continue that. It would be a real showcase with a fresh seafood market so you can grab stuff to take home. It would be bushels of blue claws. It would be Chef michael brennan from Cardinal and Chef bobby Hettman -

sperger from Il porcellino and other great chefs using the seafood from the vendor right next to them and preparing that fish and seafood right in front of you. It would highlight our local seafood treasures even more than we already do. How cool would that be?”

pretty cool … we can’t wait! the Downbeach Seafood Festival will take place 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. It is located on Ski beach, Dorset and burk avenues, Ventnor. Street parking is available, and shuttle buses are also provided. For tickets, which start at $10, and

more information, go to DownbeachSeafoodFest.com

Photos courtesy of Charles Eberson

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. He can be reached at scronick@ comcast.net.

For Ocean exec, summer was a fleeting thing

The Casino File

By Chuck Darrow

No matter how quickly summer seemed to fly by for you, becky Schultz probably had you beat.

t hat’s because Schultz, the vice-president of restaurant operations at Ocean Casino resort, had her pots and pans—along with her hands—full as she had to oversee the opening of not one, not two, but three new restaurants at the luxe adult playpen on the b oardwalk’s eastern end.

First there was Lascala’s Fire, the casual-Italian joint that is part of a philadelphia-area chain. It opened just as the summer season was taking its first tentative steps. but that was just the appetizer. In

mid-July, philly-based master-of-therestaurant-universe Stephen Starr simultaneously opened two eateries, a brunch spot called Sunny’s and its next-door neighbor, the upscale Chez Frites (pronounced “shay freet”). Spoiler alert: Schultz lived to tell about her rather, ahem, full summer.

According to Schultz, a Sommerville (Somerset County) native and mother of 21- and almost-18-year-old sons and a 14-year-old daughter, getting Lascala’s Fire up and running was relatively easy because that organization already had a template. b ut delivering Starr’s two babies—whose concepts were brand new—presented more hurdles.

“ the biggest challenge probably was that very, very short engagement period,” she recalled over a recent dinner at Chez Frites.

“ b y the time we got to where the contract was signed, we only had a few months to really pull it all together. And [Starr’s people are] a team that's used to working with a 12-month window. b ut we didn't have that luxury. So, I really think that what both teams accomplished was nothing short of incredible. And that’s a testament to their team and our team.”

Specifically, Schultz highlighted the way the two organizations were, out of necessity, able to work in harmony—something that isn’t always found in the restaurant universe.

“In food and beverage,” she explained, “there's a lot of different ways to do the same thing. And sometimes this person likes it this way, or this person likes it that way. Or maybe I like it a certain way, and we’re going to have our brother-sister kind of arguments behind the scenes.

“ but for this, we really didn't have the time. We just had to check egos at the door and say, ‘Look, this is what's

best for the venue, this is what's best for the brand.’ And you just get it done.”

Schultz credits the high level of trust that the two teams established for creating an environment that fostered cooperation.

“It was unbelievable. It's a trust level attached to people,” said the trenton State College business-degree holder whose resume includes gaming-industry-entry positions at the long-gone Sands Hotel & Casino and 19 years in various food-and-beverage jobs at borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which she left for Ocean in January, 2022.

Schultz described taking her assignment overseeing the two outlets’ buildout as being filled with grave responsibility.

“When it comes to other companies partnering with us, we're responsible for somebody's brand,” she reasoned. ”And this is Steven Starr's name and it's Ocean's name, and it's my job to make sure that we're doing right by both. I take that very seriously.”

Not surprisingly, there were some downsides to Schultz’s how-I-spentmy-summer projects. One was her at-best passing acquaintance with sleep. but, she admitted, Dreamland is often a once-in-a-while destination, regardless of the task at hand.

“I don't sleep a lot. And I'm a very light sleeper,” she said, adding she makes the most of the overnight hours.

“I email myself a lot of notes in the middle of the night. b efore smartphones, I would write things on the notepad on the bedside. I like my lists. I still have my book right here,” she claimed, pointing to a small notebook that sat on the table to her right.

“ there were definitely sleepless nights, but excitement at the same time.”

Although the summer season is behind her, it would be incorrect to imagine Schultz can now relax and recalibrate. She suggested the reasons she doesn’t have that luxury are partly due to the scheduled private banquets being staged at Ocean this month, as well as the thousands of guests who’ll be on property for the eight-show stand by megastar standup comic Sebastian maniscalco that commences Sept. 18.

“I don't want to say ‘decompressing’ or ‘taking my foot off the accelerator.’ I can't do that because I'm a speed demon,” she laughed. Not that she could even if she tried.

“I thrive on chaos.” she declared, “Otherwise I'm bored. And I get into mischief when I'm bored.”

Chez Frites: C’est

magnifique

Speaking of the high-end dining salon, there is no question that Starr has a winner in his new-to-AyCee concept.

While most local casino steakhouses generally offer a wide variety of appetizers and entrees—not to mention various cuts of beef--Chez Frites has a limited bill of fare.

t here are but four “starters” available: shrimp cocktail, scallop crudo, mussels marinieres and mac & cheese. All are top-shelf, but if I

had to pick just one, it would be the mussels, whose white wine sauce is downright heavenly.

As for entrees, the choices are prime New York strip steak, lobster tail, salmon and for the non-carnivorous crowd, salt-baked celery root with black trumpet mushrooms in a vegetarian au poivre. All meals—it’s a prix fixe menu—include a mixedgreen salad with white balsamic vinaigrette and unlimited pommes frites which may be the best French fries I’ve eaten since my grandmother passed some 40 years ago. by any metric, Chez Frites has already planted itself among the best such operations Our town’s gambling realm has to offer: the dining room atmosphere is upscale, but warm and unstuffy, the service impeccable and while hardly gigantic, the portion sizes certainly justify the (surprisingly reasonable for this day and age) price points.

As such, high-rollers and special-occasioners alike should find Chez Frites a welcome addition to the local fine-dining scene.

For more, go to theoceanac.com/ restaurant/chez-frites

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

CIRCLE LIQUOR STORE

Friday, September 12

The Who

▶7:30 p.m.

Jim Whelan boardwalk Hall

Buju Banton w/ Jesse Riyal

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

Get the Led Out

▶8 p.m.

Sound Waves at Hard rock

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

▶8 p.m.

tropicana Showroom

Atlantic City Headliners

Saturday, September 13

I Love the 90s Tour w/ Vanilla Ice,

Montell Jordan, Rob Base, Young

MC & Joe Denim

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

Atlantic City Jazz Fest

▶7 p.m.

Sound Waves at Hard rock

Thursday, September 18

Sebastian Maniscalco

▶8 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Friday, September 19

Sebastian Maniscalco

▶9 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Staind

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

Elvis Costello & The Imposters w/ Charlie Sexton

▶8 p.m.

borgata event Center

Los Tigres del Nortre

▶8 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

God Save the Queen

▶8 p.m.

Sound Waves at Hard rock

Saturday, September 20

Sebastian Maniscalco

▶8 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

The Platters with The Classic Drifters & The Coasters

▶9 p.m.

Golden Nugget Atlantic City

Clint Black

▶8 p.m.

Circus maximus theater at Caesars

Los Angeles Azules

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

Martin Amini

▶8 p.m.

the m usic box at borgata

Sunday, September 21

Sebastian Maniscalco

▶7 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Friday, September 26

Steve Winwood

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

Saturday, September 27

Rickey Smiley

▶8 p.m.

the m usic box at borgata

The Fray

▶8 p.m.

Circus maximus theatre at Caesars

On Sale Now

Alter Bridge w/ Filter & Sevendust

▶Saturday, may 9 borgata event Center

On Sale This Week

Night Ranger

▶Saturday, Nov. 22

the m usic box at borgata

Englebert Humperdinck

▶Saturday, Dec. 13

the Concert Venue at Harrah’s

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

▶Friday, Jan. 23

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

The R&B Lovers Tour w/ Keith Sweat, Joe, Dru Hill, Ginuwine

▶Saturday, Feb. 14

Jim Whelan boardwalk Hall

John Oates

▶Friday, march 13

the m usic box at borgata

Bailey Zimmerman

▶Friday, April 10

Hard rock Live at etess Arena

‘Laughter and Lyrics’ coming together in Somers Point

By Delaney Crawford

The S & L players and package Goods Orchestra are combining powers and hosting a variety show for the ages. e xpect comedy monologues, one-act dramedies and music, all in one show.

On Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m., the theater at 112 Woodland Ave. in Somers point will transform for 90 minutes into a space where connection and magic flow together in an extraordinary event.

S & L players is an independent theatrical production company based in South Jersey that formed in 2003. For years, the group, along with producer and writer Sam Sardina, has been performing acts in the community.

is a band of five talented, longtime musicians who have been making music for over 25 years.

local outlets shine, but together they coincide perfectly to create an even

bigger and grander event. their collaborations began about four years ago and have only grown since.

“ t he collab came together because b ette Kaminsky, the lead singer of pGO, is also an actress in our troupe for S & L players. She’s been acting with us since day one and is a core member of our group. After she and her husband started the pGO band around 2007, we’ve always followed and supported each other,” Sardina said. “So, around three to four years ago we decided to collaborate, they do the music while we do the theater, and it’s been a good marriage ever since.”

With the two coming together, attendees can expect laughter, drama, and great music. S & L players will perform Sardina’s newest dramedy, “Hey, Julia”. this debut performance will include a 30-minute one-act play, followed by an intermission, and then GO.

the music. It gives a nice variety of things for people to see and enjoy.”

Sardina explained that “Hey, Julia” is a comedy about a man who is anti-tech. One night, his computer comes to life and begins verbally berating him. “So, it’s not just a comedy, there’s more depth to it,” Sardina said. “Yes, people will laugh at lots of parts, but they’ll also think. there’s a nice twist to the story as well.”

b etween the humor, the thought-provoking story, and the lively music featuring “oldies but goodies,” this night is for everyone. Sardina says people should expect laughter, dramedy, great music, and even more collaborations like this in the future.

“I think this collaboration between our two groups works well because the shows I tend to write are about a half hour long,” Sardina said. “So, it’s nice to couple the shorter plays with

*Good Golly Miss Molly", "DeviI with the Blue Dress", "Sock it to Me", "C.C. Rider - Jenny Take A Ride", "Little Latin Lupe Lu" The Tony Mart Allstars Danny Eyer is scheduled to return for this show! Special Guest Twisted Livin' Band

In addition to the dramedy and tunes, this “Laughter and Lyrics Variety Show Special” will also feature an m C delivering comedic monologues.

Sardina shared that this is the third or fourth time S & L players and pGO have collaborated in this way, with theater in the first half and music in the second. Last year, they sold out the theater three times, and they’re excited to see what this year brings.

“Locals should come because it’s a chance to get away,” Sardina said. “It’s a lighthearted show that won’t take up too much of your time. For 20 dollars, you’re going to be entertained.” reservations for the Variety Show are recommended since seating at the theater is limited. both the S & L players and pGO are excited to bring excellence to the stage and show everyone what they can achieve not only as individual groups but also together as one.

Producer and writer Sam Sardina

An interview with living legend Mitch Ryder

Ryder to perform at the last Tony Mart Beach Concert of the season Friday in Somers Point

Tune In, Turn On

With Doug Deutsch

One reason I’ve always liked being involved in the music business is

that older artists, unlike many other professions, are not only treated with respect; but in many cases, actually earn more money (especially for their live performances) as they age.

this Friday, Sept. 12, mitch r yder – a true living legend in the music business now 80 years old – returns to Somers point to perform at tony m art’s Legendary Concerts on the b each Series at 7 p.m. Friday, and Good Golly miss molly it’s a free show! Add in an opening set by rising

South Jersey blues-rockers twisted Livin’, and that’s a really good evening of music.

“In his several wildly popular performances at tony mart in the early ’60s, m itch r yder was intense and hard-core as a serious rock and roller before many others were,” said tony mart’s Carmen marotta. “His soulful, driving rock, and his fabulous stage show with the tight Detroit Wheels, made him the perfect choice for tony mart when he needed a headliner to replace the tremendously popular LeVon and the Hawks when bob Dylan took them away from tony mart’s in late August 1965.

“ m itch r yder gave tony mart’s a wild and memorable end to the greatest musical summer at the iconic rock ‘n’ roll bar in South Jersey,” marotta continued. “It started with Conway twitty and Levon and the Hawks and transcended into bob Dylan making them the band and m itch r yder bringing it home at the end of the summer.”

What follows is an interview conducted recently with r yder (full disclosure: as publicist for ruf records, I worked publicity for mitch’s two most recent albums, “ the roof Is On Fire” and “With Love”).

DD: What are your thoughts about returning to perform in Somers point at the Jersey Shore, a place you played in 1965 with the Detroit Wheels at famed nightclub, tony mart?

Mitch: I am looking forward to reliving a fond memory from my past.

DD: What does the current mitch r yder music set consist of, songwise?

Mitch: All the hits that my fans know and love.

DD: Your career has done very well in europe for many years, especially in Germany, where you’ve recently released two albums on German-based ruf records. Discuss that here?

Mitch: I have had a very fulfilling career in europe, especially Germany, which started with a live performance on (German music t V show) ‘ rockpalast’ of the legendary ‘Full moon Concert’ in 1979. I have toured every year there since, for at least two months (except for COVID) and recorded and released 23 albums there, the last two being for ruf records. In January 2026, I am set to have a live recording of my 80th birthday concert released on ruf, and then to record another studio album for the label in April after a tour there in February/march.

DD: In a recent interview, you stated you have no interest in entering the rock & roll Hall of Fame if you were to be inducted (which you should be). Can you elaborate on this?

Mitch: I would reverse my decision on the rock & roll Hall of Fame if they returned to their original mission of perpetuating rock & roll.

Tune-Ups

Move It On Over with George Thorogood and the Destroyers: the longtime rocker is still popular and gigging regularly at age 75. He’s at tropicana Showroom on Friday, Sept. 12 for a 9 p.m. show. tickets start at $74. Info: www.caesars.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

Mitch Ryder performing at Keswick Theatre last November. Photo by John Loreaux

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, September 11

Atlantic City

Anchor Rock Club

pass/Go DJ Dance party

8 p.m.

247 S. New York Ave.

Bar One at Resorts

Karaoke w/ Cowboy Kevin

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1133 boardwalk

Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino

DJ Gabor Kiss

8 p.m.

500 boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

Dane Anthony

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Lost in paris

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 boardwalk

Johnny Fones

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

247 S. New York Ave.

Bar One at Resorts

Stereomotion

6 – 9 p.m.

DJ Gary

9:15 p.m. – late

1133 boardwalk

Borgata B Bar the Lenahan brothers

9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

1 borgata Way

Hard Rock Café

Atley m oon

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 boardwalk

Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino the Way Outs Duo

7 p.m.

Sean patrick & the Alibis

10 p.m.

Millville

Levoy Theatre

Sheena easton

7 p.m.

126-130 N. High St.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay

Karaoke Night w/ DJ mike

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 bay Ave.

Crab Trap

Starr

6 – 9 p.m.

2 broadway

Fitzpatrick’s

m usic bingo w/ DJ Chris

6 – 8 p.m.

650 New rd.

Josie Kelly’s

toni teschner & billy Walton

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Friday, September 12

Atlantic City

Anchor Rock Club

Ghost mart w/ Amulet, Helix Code,

Margate Bocca

Sidestory Duo

7:30 – 10:30 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave.

Memories

Geater Gold Dance party w/ David

Joel Stephens

6 – 9 p.m.

9518 Amherst Ave.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay Flavor Wave band

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 bay Ave.

500 boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

brendan Ireland band

6 p.m.

Incognito

10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock the Original Copy

5 – 8:30 p.m. the Loop

9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1000 boardwalk

Villain and Saint at Ocean Casino

Isn’t it Always

9 p.m.

500 boardwalk

Egg Harbor Township

The Roost Pub & Grill

tony & Al Duo

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

500 St. Andrews Dr.

Galloway

279 Social

Vinnie trav Duo

7 – 10 p.m.

279 S. New York rd.

Crab Trap

Starr. 6 – 9 p.m.

2 broadway

Crabby Jack’s

Lew London & bob m ower

5 – 8 p.m.

2 broadway

Josie Kelly’s tom brett

4 p.m.

Chris Yoder band

8 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Lost in Paris will perform from 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Lobby Bar at Hard Rock. Photo credit: Lost in Paris Facebook

Tuckerton

The Lizzie Rose Music Room

mary Fahl

7:30 p.m.

217 e main St.

Saturday, September 13

Atlantic City

Anchor Rock Club

Club beach rave

10 p.m.

247 S. New York Ave.

Borgata B Bar

Dan Jost trio

6:30 – 10 p.m.

Adam Holcombe trio

10:30 p.m. – 2 a.m.

1 borgata Way

Bar One at Resorts

Sara & tom

6 – 9 p.m.

DJ Gary

9:15 p.m. – late

1133 boardwalk

Hard Rock Café

the Nutz

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 boardwalk

Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino

Garden State radio

10 p.m.

500 boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

tragic remedy

6 p.m.

rock N’ radio

10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Dane Anthony band

5 – 8:30 p.m.

Aftershock

9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1000 boardwalk

Villain and Saint at Ocean Casino

Who brought the Dog Duo

9 p.m.

500 boardwalk

Wyndham Skyline Tower

m agic Comedy Hour feat. Joe

Holiday 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.

100 S. North Carolina Ave.

Brigantine

LaScala’s Beach House

Don’t Call m e Francis

1 – 5 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave.

Egg Harbor City

Renault Winery

John King

12 – 4 p.m.

72 N. bremen Ave.

Galloway

279 Social Adam & min

7 – 10 p.m.

279 S. New York rd.

Margate Bocca CJ Sooy

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave.

Millville

Levoy Theatre

Who’s bad: the Ultimate michael

Jackson e xperience

8 p.m.

126-130 N. High St.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay Aubrey ray Duo

4 – 7 p.m.

X-Stream band

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 bay Ave.

Crab Trap Starr

6 – 9 p.m.

2 broadway

Crabby Jack’s

Lew London & bob m ower

5 – 8 p.m.

2 broadway

Fitzpatrick’s

Glen eric

5 – 8 p.m.

650 New rd.

Tuckerton

The Lizzie Rose Music Room

Dana Fuchs

The Exceptions perform at The Deck at Golden Nugget on Sunday, Sept. 14. Photo credit: The Exceptions Facebook

7:30 p.m.

217 e . main St.

Ventnor

Downbeach Seafood Festival

Yani the band

12 p.m.

Funk Daddy

2:30 p.m.

Dorset & burk Ave.

Ventnor Coffee

Open mic

6 – 9 p.m.

108 N. Dorset Ave.

Sunday, September 14

Atlantic City

The Deck at Golden Nugget the e xceptions

2:30 – 6:30 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

m -80

4 – 7:30 p.m.

Who brought the Dog

8:30 – 11:30 p.m.

1000 boardwalk

Brigantine

LaScala’s Beach House

Incognito

12 – 4 p.m.

1400 Ocean Ave.

Egg Harbor City

Renault Winery

Yacht rock Gold e xperience

12 – 4 p.m.

72 N. bremen Ave.

Galloway

279 Social

Nick Sbaffoni

12 – 3 p.m.

279 S. New York rd.

Margate

Memories

DJ Joel Stephens

4 – 7 p.m.

9518 Amherst Ave.

Somers Point

Crab Trap

Joe Staffierri Duo

6 – 9 p.m.

2 broadway

Josie Kelly’s traditional Irish Session

1 – 4 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Ventnor

Downbeach Seafood Festival

Yani the band

12 p.m.

Funk Daddy

2:30 p.m.

Dorset & burk Ave.

Monday, September 15

Atlantic City

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Out of Spite

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 boardwalk

↘Continued on 60

DISCOVER THE ALL NEW

SOCIAL SCREAM WEEK

Beyond

Continued from 59

Somers

Tuesday,

p.m. – 12 a.m. 1133 boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget michael Stevens

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Gypsy Wisdom

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 boardwalk

Margate Bocca

Live Jazz by b ob & t he b occa boys

7 – 10 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay Open mic Night w/ blue eagle

7:30 – 11:30 p.m.

450 bay Ave.

Crab Trap tommy Nic

6 – 9 p.m.

2 broadway

Josie Kelly’s Jimmy brogan

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Tuckerton

The Lizzie Rose Music Room rockin’ Jake band

7:30 p.m.

217 e main St.

Events subject to change.

Yani The Band will perform Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Downbeach Seafood Festival in Ventnor. Photo credit: Yani, The Band Facebook

Atlantic City’s Playground: An ambitious idea that just didn’t work

By Bruce Klauber

Had it not been for the entrepreneurs, the business people, the visionaries, the politicos, the dreamers, the inventors and the investors, there would be no Atlantic City as we know it.

think about it. the Atlantic City boardwalk was the 1870 brainchild of a train conductor named Alexander b oardman who came up with the concept to prevent tourists from tracking sand into hotels and railroad cars.

Amusement piers? A man named Colonel Howard came up with the idea and he opened Howard’s pier in 1882.

the miss America pageant? It was born in 1921 when the Atlantic City

b usinessmen’s League was looking for a way to extend the summer season. the League Inter-City b eauty Contest eventually became the miss America pageant.

those are just three examples of ideas that worked very well. but through the years, some concepts – many thought to be “can’t miss” propositions – just did not pan out in Atlantic City.

the revel Hotel and Casino, for example, was opened in 2012 but closed in 2014 because its high-end target market did not exist.

the idea for opening a branch of philadelphia’s venerable pat’s Steaks in Atlantic City was expected to be an instant moneymaker. Unfortunately, no one bothered to consider that the city was already home to White House Subs, known by many for having the best cheesesteaks in the country.

then there was the whole idea of bringing minor league baseball to Atlantic City. Although minor league ball was played in the city with middling success in the late 1800s and again from 1998 to 2008, it just did

not work here, and there has been no minor league baseball in Atlantic City for 17 years.

bart blatstein is known as a master developer, entrepreneur and idea man who has made the Showboat into a success after its days as a casino ended in 2014.

His popular Island Waterpark is possibly the first attraction in the city geared to attracting visitors yearround. the next blatstein attraction to open on the b oardwalk at the Showboat will be the Fusion b each Club, an outdoor gym complete with basketball courts, bars and restaurants.

b latstein deserves credit for being one of the few developers who is actively addressing the issue of making the city a year-round tourist destination.

but even visionaries like blatstein have a misstep now and then, and one of those missteps – still visible today – was something called t he playground, opened in 2016 on the site of what was once the million Dollar pier, later the Ocean One mall and even later, the pier Shops at Caesars. the idea was impressive, ambitious and innovative in that it was one of the first non-casino projects aimed at helping make Atlantic City a year-round tourist destination once and for all.

In a 2015 article in philadelphia m agazine, writer James Jennings reported: “ b latstein, along with Steelman partners, is in the midst of a massive transformation project to take it from a seldom-visited mall with plenty of empty storefronts, to what’s now dubbed the playground, a development that b latstein said would help remake Atlantic City into the entertainment capital of the east Coast.”

As the developer envisioned it, the playground’s tenants would be world-class restaurants and live music venues – “akin to beale Street in m emphis,” blatstein said. envisioned were high-end retailers like Gucci, Apple and tommy bahama; sports bars, a bowling alley and an outdoor, live entertainment venue that would front on the beach. Noted restaurateurs like Stephen Starr bought in, as did a number of retailers, restaurants, bars and clubs.

After spending some $52 million on revamping the pier, t he playground, though still incomplete, with some projected tenants not

↘Continued on 64

The Playground opened in 2015 after a $52 million investment by Bart Blatstein.

yet moved in, opened in late June of 2015.

“I’m coming into an area that everybody else is running out of,” b latstein told the Courier- post at the grand opening. “ but that’s what I do. I fix problems; I’m the handyman. either I’m really smart, or I’m a moron. the pier was 55 percent vacant and it was bleeding. I’m a sucker for a turnaround story.”

to his credit, b latstein and his partners even addressed the issue that some claimed brought down the mall in its previous incarnation: parking.

While still accessible from Caesars, the plan was that t he playground would offer $15 valet parking nearby and free surface parking with a shuttle to a facility where the Sands casino used to stand.

“ trendy.” that was the byword that best described the playground. And “trendy” may have been what brought it down.

A little over four years after its opening, bart blatstein sold the pier back to a subsidiary of Caesars entertainment saying that he intended to concentrate his efforts on bringing gambling back to the Showboat.

b usiness was booming at t he playground for a while, perhaps mainly out of curiosity, but it wasn’t long before foot traffic declined and some retailers began to depart. there is no definitive reason for t he playground’s failure. What we do know is that parking was again an issue and that a slew of high-end retail shops and restaurants found that they could not depend solely on boardwalk foot traffic for survival.

the old Ocean One m all, which originally replaced the million Dollar pier, worked well for a time, as it was

The Playground was envisioned as a place to shop high-end retailers.

filled with souvenir shops, lower-end retailers and mid-priced restaurant chains like the Italian bistro that were foot-traffic magnets. Long after the fact, b latstein cited economic and operational issues as reasons behind the playground’s downfall.

b ut in retrospect, the failure of revel, which opened in 2012 and closed a year before the playground opened, served as ample evidence that there’s not really a market for anything truly “high end” on the boardwalk.

there is no doubt that bart blatstein is a visionary who loves Atlantic City, and that he’ll do anything possible to help the city realize what he sees as its unlimited potential. to be a successful visionary, one has to take chances, and from time to time, those chances don’t work out.

the playground didn’t work out. b ut in b latstein’s case, let’s look at what did.

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.

Cherry Poppins crowned Miss’d America 2026

Cherry poppins of New York City was crowned m iss’d America 2026 on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Caesars Atlantic City.

poppins, whose given name is m ichael Samhat, placed as second runner-up in last year’s competition before claiming the top title this year. She received $5,000 in prize money, with the Countess mascara earning $2,500 for second place

and tiffany FoXXX receiving $1,500 for third. this year’s pageant carried a “Disco Down” theme, with contestants competing in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview categories. poppins is known as a live-singing comedy queen who has performed in both New York and New Jersey.

She was the face of New York City’s tourism campaign in 2021 and appeared on Hot Ones: the Game Show. Offstage, she is a b roadway enthusiast, horror film fan and enjoys spending time with friends. Drag runs in the family for poppins. Her drag mother, FiFi Dubois (James m ullady), won the m iss’d America crown in 2016.

Founded in 1994 by philanthropists John Schultz and Gary Hill, m iss’d America began as a parody of the miss America pageant. today, it continues as a major Atlantic City event and fundraiser for LG btQ+ charities. television personality Carson Kressley served as host of Saturday’s pageant.

Host Carson Kressley with Miss’d America 2025 Aria B. Cassadine , Miss’d America 2026 Cherry Poppins, 2nd Runner up Tiffany Foxx and 1st Runner Up The Countess Mascara

Newly Crowned Miss’d America 2026 Cherry Poppins walks the runway at Caesars Casino.

The evening gown portion of the pageant. Photos courtesy of John DiAmio

The amazing wines of Northern Spain

Drink Up!

By David Setley

The wines of the Iberian peninsula – Spain and portugal – are among my favorites. In fact, these are arguably some of the best wines in the world! So please, pour a glass and allow me to introduce you to the wines of the basque Country, Navarra, and Castilla y Leon.

the basque Country wine region is in north-central Spain around the city of b ilbao. the basque people trace their ancestry to ancient Neolithic farming tribes who inhabited the area long before the romans arrived. In fact, they are considered the oldest existing culture, not only on the Iberian peninsula, but possibly in all of europe. their language is believed to be the most ancient distinct dialect in europe. the region is divided into three subregions: bizkaiko txakolina, Getariako txakolina, and Arabako

txakolina (say those three times fast!). “ txakolina” translates to “village” in the basque language, but is also the name for a style of wine produced there.

t he b asque Country wine region produces crisp, zesty, slightly dry, and slightly effervescent txakoli wines (pronounced like the start of chocolate, but say choc-o-lee). they are primarily made from Hondarribia Zuri and Hondarribia b eltza grapes and come in both white and rosé styles. txakoli wines have notably high levels of minerality and are relatively low in alcohol, typically 10-11%. many of the vineyards are located directly on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a slightly salty minerality. the region is a cool, wet area, giving the grapes a short growing season that prevents them from achieving a high level of maturity, resulting in wines that tend to be highly acidic. think of txakoli wine as a less fruit-forward Sauvignon blanc. they pair wonderfully with fresh seafood. Interestingly, 80% of txakoli wines produced in the

basque Country are consumed there. Clearly, what happens in the basque Country largely stays in the basque Country! b ut let’s take advantage of that 20%. An excellent and very reasonably priced example of this wine is Antxiola-txakolina Getariako from the Getariako txakolina subregion. Don’t let unfamiliarity with the varietal deter you. You may find a new favorite. In the basque language, “topa” is how they say “cheers.” So, grill some great seafood, pour a glass of txokoli and greet your friends and family in the language of this ancient culture. topa!

Another lesser-known wine region of Northern Spain is Navarra, located at the western end of the p yrenees m ountains. It borders France to the north, the b asque Country to the west, and Aragón to the east. One of the region's most recognized towns is pamplona, known for its “running of the bulls,” made famous in ernest Hemingway’s “ the Sun Also rises”. Navarra produces outstanding wines made from tempranillo, m erlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon b lanc grapes. However, the most respected wines from the region are made from Garnacha grapes. Garnacha wine is dry, bold, and medium-bodied, with soft tannins and an excellent balance of dark fruit and earthiness. try the Lurra Garnacha, a perfect example of the region’s terroir and made from 100% Garnacha. this wine is aged in stainless steel, allowing for a perfect expression of this grape. Garnacha is a perfect charcuterie wine, also pairing well with vegetables, ham, stews, game, paella, and meat dishes. the last region to discuss is the landlocked region of Castilla y Leon. b ordered by portugal to the west, Galicia and the basque Country to the north, La rioja and Aragon to the east, and m adrid to the south, Castilla y Leon is among the largest

wine regions in Spain. m any grapes are produced there, including the red varietals of tempranillo, m encia, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and a white grape in the subregion of rueda, called Verdejo. m encia, likely the most unfamiliar of the above list to many of you, is frequently called Spain’s pinot Noir. t he wines produced from this grape are very dry and medium-bodied, with notable acidity and notes of cherry and wild raspberry as well as earthy notes of forest floor and soil. t he subregion of ribera de Duero is home to the winery of Jose Antonio Garcia (sometimes just called JAG) and his wife, Julia peña García. t hey are winemaking royalty in this region. try Jose Antonio Garcia Unculin tinto m encia de Valtuille 2020 as an introduction to the mencia grape. You won’t be disappointed!

For an example of tempranillo from Castilla y Leon, try the Vinedos Valderiz ribera Del Duero. this organic wine from bodegas Valderiz has won accolades from most of the wine review magazines. this dry red wine is produced from the grapes hand-harvested from 70-plus-yearold vines and is aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. the result is a complex blend of blackberries and currants with notes of espresso, licorice, spice, and minerality.

For a great example of Verdejo, try the Oro De Castilla-Verdejo rueda 2022. this high-altitude wine is produced in a small family winery and expresses the limestone soils of the terrain beautifully through a minerality that brings stone, salinity, and chalk to mind. the wine is fresh and crisp with fruit notes of citrus and crisp green apple. It is perfect for salads, seafood, chicken, or vegetable meals.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Northern Spain. If your interest is piqued, I invite you to register for our upcoming Wine Foundations course, beginning Oct. 28. It will be a three-week adventure, diving deeper into the wines of Spain and portugal. For more information, visit passionvines.com and click on the events tab, or contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com. Until next time, topa! 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.

TWO ATLANTIC CITY ICONS PAIR UP FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING

AND YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED...

Luscious Libations

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

2405 Atlantic Avenue

Atlantic City

5:30pm to 7:30pm

This year’s tasting is a light, refreshing, lavender + pineapple infused Tequila Ocho margarita, nicknamed “Go Ahead, Make My Day,” created at Dock’s famous bar!

Lush hors d’oeuvres • Cash Bar • Live Music by Shawn Ashley

Tickets include a Grand Prize Raffle!

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES & TICKETS:

Proceeds benefit Absecon Lighthouse

To

$2,500 Includes private event & climb at Absecon Lighthouse for up to 50 guests plus 10 event tickets

$1,500 Includes private event & climb at Absecon Lighthouse for up to 30 guests plus 8 event tickets

$750 Includes private tour & climb of Absecon Lighthouse for 15 guests plus 4 event tickets

$200 2 tickets with donation upgrade – thank you!

$75 per person ticket

www.abseconlighthouse.org

Somers Point's Art in the Park returns for ninth year on Sept. 13

The Somers point Arts Commission is presenting Art in the park on Sept. 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at John F. Kennedy park on broadway in Somers point overlooking the Great egg Harbor bay. this day-long event features professional and amateur painters and photographers displaying and selling their works, as well as music, fun art activities for children and grown-ups and food/beverages

for sale. Newly added this year will be an art display and activities that feature Art and Healing, presented by Shore physicians Group. In addition, a children’s art exhibit featuring the

work of students from Dawes Avenue School will be on display. Art in the park is free and open to the public. Kennedy park provides handicapped parking. Contributors to Art in the p ark and Somers point Arts Commission’s 2025 programs include Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the City of Somers point, erCO Ceilings and Interiors, Shore physicians Group and many other local businesses.

For questions and information: somersptarts@gmail.com, artintheparksomerspt.weebly.com, somersptarts.weebly.com, or on Facebook @somersptarts.

Live in Touch with Your Soul

URSA ALCHEMY is a unique blend of Astrology, Aromatherapy and Cosmic Guidance co-created with the Cosmos, Plants and Spirit.

Offering Astrological Aromatherapy, a variety of Astrology readings, Aromatherapy consults and products, the Becoming Chiron podcast, downloadable classes and guided meditations.

Ursula is the author of The Cosmic Connection weekly horoscopes and astrology summaries featured here in Shore Local Newsmagazine!

Headed into Strathmere

Along the bay in Longport

Over the bridge from Margate

Shore Fast Line in Pleasantville

Falling back into your routine: A fresh start for fall

By Rachel King

Ahhh, fall. the air is crisp, the pumpkin spice is flowing and the kids are officially back in school. Which means … you finally have a second to breathe, right?

Summer was full of beach days, barbecues and late nights — fun, yes,

but let’s be honest: routines usually go right out the window. And now, here you are, looking at your calendar thinking, “Okay, it’s time to get myself back on track.”

Here’s the good news: fall is the perfect season for a reset. It’s like m other Nature’s way of saying, Let’s slow down, refocus and take care of ourselves again.

So, how do you fall back into your routine without feeling overwhelmed?

3. Make it fun

1. Start small — you don’t need to do it all at once

Don’t try to overhaul your entire life in a week. pick one or two habits to focus on first. m aybe it’s getting to two workouts a week, packing a healthy lunch or drinking more water. Small steps add up — and they stick.

2. Schedule YOU time

We’re all guilty of filling the calendar with everyone else’s needs. b ut here’s the thing: you can’t pour from an empty cup. treat your workouts or self-care time like any other appointment — non-negotiable. even 20 minutes counts!

Fall is full of cozy vibes, so use them! try a new workout class, take your walk outside with a fall playlist or experiment with seasonal healthy recipes. When you look forward to it, it doesn’t feel like a chore.

4. Find accountability

It’s so much easier to stick to a plan when someone’s cheering you on. Grab a workout buddy, join a fitness challenge, or come to a studio where the community keeps you motivated. We promise — it makes all the difference.

5. Celebrate the wins progress isn’t always about the

scale. Did you get three workouts in this week? m eal prep on Sunday? Go to bed on time? Celebrate it! building habits is about consistency, not perfection. this fall, give yourself permission to start fresh. t he routines will come, the energy will return, and you’ll feel like you again — strong, motivated and ready to take on whatever life throws your way. So go ahead … fall back into your routine. You deserve it.

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.

By Eric Reich

Life insurance: You need it, or you don’t. It’s that simple, right? Well, not exactly. there are countless uses for life insurance that I’ve seen over the years, and a few times when it really wasn’t needed. today, we’ll talk about the uses of life insurance and what to do when you have a policy you no longer need.

1. Traditional death benefit

this is one of the most popular uses. Depending on the face value of your policy, life insurance will provide your beneficiary(s) with a lump sum payment in the event of your death.

2. Collateralize a loan

Life insurance can be used to pay off a lender in the event of your death. many lenders require life insurance.

3. College planning

Cash value life insurance (and annuities) are the only non-qualified assets that are not assessed for financial aid purposes. A policy can also be used to pay off college for your children in the event of your untimely death.

4. Fund a business buyout or succession plan

b usiness partners can buy insurance on each other and sign an agreement guaranteeing that they will buy the business from your family in the event of your death. A premium payment for life insurance can be a lot cheaper than writing a check for a large sum, especially when cash flow is at a premium following the death of a partner.

5. Creating a legacy

You can work your entire life to save money to leave to your family, or you can buy a policy and accomplish the same thing.

6. Create a charitable legacy

It can be less expensive to leave the local hospital a life insurance policy (especially one you no longer need)

than it is to write a check or reduce your heirs’ inheritance.

7. Balance an inheritance

If you own a business that some, not all, of your children work in, it may not be fair to leave it to all of them. Instead, the children working in the business inherit it, and the others get the equivalent from life insurance.

8. Pay taxes

Now that the estate tax exemption has been raised, most households won’t have a Federal estate tax (for now) but may have a state or local tax. Why pay $1 for $1 of tax when you can transfer that future cost to an insurance company for a fraction of the cost by leveraging your dollars using life insurance instead?

9. Cash flow

In some instances, the cash value portion of a life insurance policy may be accessed tax-free. Imagine a source of readily available capital. You can take a loan from the policy or surrender up to your cost basis for a tax-free withdrawal.

10. Alternative to money markets or CDs

A 5% potential cash value credit may be more than the interest you might receive from a CD or money market if the Federal reserve cuts interest rates. Life insurance is its own asset class.

11. Hybrid long-term care

Life insurance may be easier to qualify for than traditional long-term care insurance. many people resist buying long-term care insurance because they don’t want to pay for something they think they might never use. In reality, there’s a 71% chance you will need long-term care after age 65 (longtermcare. gov). With a hybrid policy, even if you don’t end up using the long-term care portion, your beneficiary(s) still receive a death benefit when you die.

If you have an old life insurance policy that you no longer need for any of the above reasons, you can potentially:

1. Surrender it for the cash value

2. Convert to reduced paid up

3. Convert to extended term

4. Sell the policy

As you can see, life insurance can be a very versatile tool!

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.

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.

Crate training a puppy without giving in to their puppy eyes

By Heidi Clayton

Ireceived an email asking for help regarding a four-monthold puppy that struggles to settle when left alone in the crate when the family is home and moving around the house. the puppy barks for attention, then inevitably, someone either feels bad for the puppy or gets tired of hearing the puppy bark and lets them out. teaching your puppy to be alone and settle themselves is, for me, one of the most valuable skills they can learn. It just takes consistency, patience, and sometimes a bit of tough love.

Creating a positive association with a crate and confinement is the first step in the training. I start crate training all of the puppies I breed at about six weeks or so, when they

start eating individual meals. each puppy eats in their crate with the door closed and is let out after eating to go outside for potty training. I also give them their first marrow bones inside a crate, so they can chew undisturbed by littermates. I make the crate an awesome place for them to be with thick fleece crate pads, put a few toys inside with them, and hang a water bucket inside the crate.

I do use playpens for baby puppies, but do not like to solely rely on them when crate training and helping them to learn how to soothe themselves. the time spent in the crate is increased each day as they age. I also find housebreaking to be easier when using an actual crate where the puppy has less space for an accident.

Where most people go wrong in crate training is to only put the puppy in the playpen, which is usually roomier, when they are home. Or, they only put the puppy in the crate at bedtime or when leaving the house. A huge key to success is, for no reason

whatsoever, you simply put the puppy in the crate while you are home and shut the door. Just because you are home does not mean that the puppy will have access to you. It is not realistic when raising a puppy that you will be able to have eyes on them all day. Quite frankly, some days you will just need to get things done without a puppy underfoot. I always make sure my puppies have been outside to potty before giving them a forced downtime in the crate.

When putting a puppy into the crate while you’re going to be home, it’s important that you do so without emotion. I do like to give them a little treat of some sort when I place them inside. A crate becomes punishment if you yell, scream and struggle to put the puppy inside of it. Using a little treat to get them in and simply not making a big deal of things will set the tone that everything is OK and they will survive. I will also occasionally reward my puppies for being quiet when they are relaxing.

If they scream and cry, I can not stress enough how important it is not to let them out. I know it is hard to ignore, but if you reward a puppy for whining and crying, you are creating a precedent that those behaviors get attention and freedom. the goal is for the puppy to learn to relax themselves and settle. I have had a few drama queens over the years, and if the crying is just over the top, I will put a blanket over the crate to muffle the noise.

m aking the crate an awesome place to be and rewarding your puppy for being settled will make the process as easy as it really is. Don’t create a monster by falling into the trap of letting a puppy free when there is drama. Drama aside, I assure all puppy owners that just about 100 percent of the time, your puppy is just fine in their crates for a little while to settle. As with most bad behaviors in puppies, ignoring the drama but rewarding the good behavior you want will pay off.

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

Top reasons to purchase a home in

Real Estate Matters

By Elisa Jo Eagan

As we wrap up the 13 weeks of summer, the children go back to school and we get back to fall routines, most homebuyers assume that they will be unable to find a house that fits their needs during the fall.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

While spring and summer are known for their mad rush of real estate activity, there are many reasons why you should consider making a fall real estate purchase.

Star of the show

may have already found a home, meaning in some cases fall buyers may have less competition for the available homes on the market that spark your interest.

Exhaustion is real

Not every home on the market has multiple bids and sells immediately. Countless

the realty market starts to clear out as soon as the weather turns crisp. m ost warm-weather buyers

Home for the holidays

showings may make for a tired seller. After a few months on the market, lingering summertime sellers may be ready to sell, which may put buyers in a better position to negotiate a price that fits their budget.

Fall is the perfect time to house hunt. It is a wonderful time to go to closing, celebrate and enjoy your new home with the family just in time for t hanksgiving and the holiday season. Sellers are delighted to have a quick closing, and as a buyer you are able to use this time crunch to your best advantage.

Season of savings

After settling on a new home, furnishing it is certainly next on your

list. Fortunately, December is an ideal time to purchase big-ticket items. According to Consumer reports, appliances like refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers are at their cheapest. As a buyer you can also snag great deals on furniture and home decor during end-of-year sales. If you are serious about moving, there is no reason to wait until spring. With just a little patience and persistence, you can be in your dream home before t hanksgiving, the holidays and before the start of the new year. m ortgage interest rates are the lowest they have been in months, creating savings opportunities, and new inventory is coming on the market every day. r emember – p umpkin spice makes everything nice here in our Shore Local area.

(609)703-0432 and Remember..."There's No Place Like Owning Your Own Home!"

Beacon Animal Rescue pups Tiffany and Nemo looking for a forever home

Beacon Animal rescue, a no-kill shelter in Upper township, has been dedicated to saving the lives of cats and dogs since 2003. the organization works to rescue, care for and place animals in loving homes while also supporting pet owners with resources and education. Serving the South Jersey region, b eacon aims to “light the way toward greater compassion and care for companion animals.”

Here are two pups looking for a forever home.

tiffany is about as cuddly as they come. She loves nothing more than giving out hugs to everyone she meets and cuddling up on a lap if given the opportunity. She has a beautiful tan and white silky coat with eyes that sparkle and look into your soul. tiffany is an intelligent and treat motivated girlie, and will sit and

lay down on command if treats are readily available. She walks great on a leash, rides well in a car and loves being included in any and all adventures. tiffany is the definition of loyalty and

love, and is ready to show her forever family just how much love she has to give. If we had to guess, the limit does not exist!

Nemo is an angelic cherub that stands to be around 35 lbs, just like his parents. Nemo is mostly black, but has a couple little spots of brindle on his coat, making his markings pretty unique! Aside from his perfect size, he is extremely dog friendly and has several puppy friends that he plays well with at the shelter. Nemo is his best self when he has another canine companion to lead and guide him. He can be a little shy and timid at times, and looks to his fur friends for reassurance. Nemo is gentle and sweet, curious and calm, and will be your best friend if given the chance!

For more information, visit www.beaconanimalrescue.org or email beaconanimalrescues@gmail.com. You may also call beacon Animal rescue at (609) 390-7946.

SHORE FUNNY

Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.

Why shouldn’t you write with a broken pencil? Because it’s pointless.

Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot.

Why did the Clydesdale give the pony a glass of water? Because he was a little horse.

What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta.

Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants? In case he got a hole in one.

What do sea monsters eat? Fish and ships.

SUDOKU

ACROSS

1. Furry bamboo consumer

6. Cuban dance syllable

9. 100-meter race, e.g.

13. S-shaped moldings

14. excessively theatrical actor

15. Chap

16. Will alternative

17. Sailor's affirmative

18. At full speed

19. *Cause for fall celebration

21. *Apple-related game

23. european Union, acr.

24. Hawaiian tuber

25. pen on a farm

28. Color of a bruise

30. *pumpkins and squash, e.g.

35. "Give me your tired, your ____...."

37. "____ Free," movie about lions

39. Disdain

40. Caribbean color

41. Shiny suit

43. Spaghetti aglio and ____

44. peevish

46. Half a round, in golf

47. ____-do-well

48. battles royale

50. Change for a twenty

52. banned insecticide, acr.

53. *back-to-School event

55. Hermey the Dentist

57. *Apple sauce

61. *____ weather

65. Cell phone bill item

66. bar association

68. Wombs

69. begin, began, ____

70. Cut grass

71. romanov rulers

72. Command with "at"

73. Stiff grass bristle

74. "Hobby" animal

DOWN

1. beckham of "Spice Girls"

2. turkish honorific

3. Not far

4. Look into

5. In the Land of Nod

6. Online conversation

7. *Cushion for certain seasonal ride

8. Naked protozoa

9. Obtuse, as in person

10. ____ bowl, frozen dish

11. Largest human organ

12. precedes Kong

15. Hindi courtesy title, pl.

20. modern-day aqua-lung, acr.

22. Domain

24. Wood-eating house hazard

25. Involuntary contraction

26. Chef's headgear

27. phil Collins' "____ be in my Heart"

29. *maze plant

31. Upward and onto

32. Wide-____ notebook

33. *Like leaves in fall

34. Stall call

36. *much-used fall garden tool

38. Not any

42. extend subscription

45. Unquestioning ones

49. Fraternity house

51. miss marple, e.g.

54. "Is Your mama a ____?"

56. Dom DeLuise in 1980 role

57. rubik's puzzle

58. Away from port

59. the state before riches?

60. malaria symptom

61. Saw, sawed, ____

62. Drop of sorrow

63. makes a mistake

64. precedes shine

67. Gift topper

THEME: FALL'S IN THE AIR

The Cosmic Connection with Ursula Duffy

Rising sign horoscopes for Sept. 11 – 17

♈ Aries: Insights into yourself and your identity oftentimes come from your relationships with others. Disagreement or tension are opportunities for learning and personal growth.

♉ Taurus: physical and mental health and wellness are themes this week, particularly sources of irritation. remember

to rest and practice any techniques you use to find your Zen and center.

♊ Gemini: Sources of joy and pleasure may be feeling a little out of reach. Surround yourself with your true tribe. engaging with others to lift your spirits is time well spent.

♋ Cancer: You may feel more pressure in balancing work and home/ family. Your role and achievements in the workplace have gifted you skills that you can also utilize on the home front.

♌ Leo: Friction with a family member can foster diplomatic resolutions. there’s been great growth in your ability to expand your perspectives. be the pioneer of the solution.

♍ Virgo: Facing your fears and embracing your shadows have been repeating lessons. resources come into focus, and the bigger lesson is trusting the intimate bond with another.

♎ Libra: Holding on to heavy emotions churned up by a break-up or conflict in a relationship causes inflammation. Identify this in your body, and work toward balance and release.

♏ Scorpio: Awareness of a blind spot or hidden force working against you may surface. this may challenge or interrupt your daily routines. Swift action will minimize disruption.

♐ Sagittarius: If you’re feeling distance or separation from your community, a reframe may be helpful. Consider the space an invitation to joyfully go deeper into your creative flow.

♑ Capricorn: t he time could be right for a strategic and intentional shift in your professional life. the ideal result would be feeling more at home with your authentic self.

♒ Aquarius: Finding your true voice is a dynamic process and journey. Severing ties with limiting beliefs and out-

dated paradigms catalyzes the courage required.

♓ Pisces: becoming a more confident person is a learning process that also invites healing. this week may reveal to you the personal growth you’ve achieved through greater self-reliance.

Weekly astrology summary: this week is an important time for observation and reflection since we’re in the space between the eclipses. A beautiful cosmic invitation is present from messenger m ercury. reflect back to the end of July and anything new that you learned, or new insights that have changed your mindset and perspective. Does it seem you’ve reached a measurable milepost? the halfway point of the journey here, and there’s more maturation ahead. thoughts, ideas, and communication in general are about to get an unprecedented upgrade as m ercury connects with outer planets in a totally new way on Sept. 18. this week’s challenge is stirred up by motivated mars becoming at odds with cathartic Chiron. It’s an opportunity for balance and meditating on how far we’ve come in the journey of being our unique, individual selves in relationship to others. It may feel tense and irritating, which helps to catalyze action and experiential learning. this cosmic butting of heads last occurred in late September 2023. pay attention to anything resurfacing now that’s similar to your experience from two years ago. 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 tutorial video on my Ursa Alchemy Youtube channel, or cast your own birth chart for free on astro.com.

New waterfront projects in Somers Point unveiled

Two major waterfront projects are underway in Somers point, with developers promising to bring modern coastal living and resort-style amenities to the bayfront.

Scarborough properties, based in marmora, has broken ground on Salt House, a community of 24 semi-custom, fee-simple single-family homes along bay and pleasant avenues, adjacent to Harbour Cove marina. prices start at $1,259,000, and interest is already strong. the first home went under contract within 24 hours of sales opening, according to the company.

In addition to Salt House, Scarborough p roperties is preparing to launch the Somers point paddle Club, a private pool and social club slated to debut in 2026. m embership

applications are now open for the club, which will feature resort-style pools, private cabanas, a full bar and restaurant. Company officials say early membership interest has been significant.

together, the projects mark Scarborough’s vision for what it calls a new “waterfront lifestyle district” in Somers point, blending residential opportunities with recreational amenities.

Scarborough properties, located at 6 W. roosevelt blvd. in marmora, has been active in coastal real estate development across the region.

For more information about Salt House or the Somers point paddle Club, visit scarboroughproperties. com or contact Scarborough properties at 609-983-3495.