A Ten-Bell Salute for Arturo “Thunder” Gatti
Plus: ‘Straight Talk” with Harry Hurley, Author Rachel Simon, and Michelle Dawn Mooney shares her birthday celebration...with you!!!
FR
In Search of The Jersey Devil
EE ! OCTOBER 2009
www.acoutlets.com
Join us for Millennium Radio’s
Women’s Expo & Baby Fair
PANTONE 4625
PANTONE 9160
Saturday, october 10th •Free Demonstrations •exhibits •Musical Fall Fashion Show •Sidewalk Sale Great Outlet Shopping Begins at the End of the AC Expressway
Vince Polistina
Chris Christie
John Amodeo
Back to the Future 10 0 Fa c t o r y o u t l e t S t o r e S
The Return of The Grand Old Party
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What’s inside this month: 8
The Boardwalk Journaltm is published
BIG Trouble for Marty Small
by Boardwalk Media Group, LLC, ©2009 all rights reserved
9 Don Marrandino Comes Home...and Takes Over 11 the raw feed 12 Lloyd Levenson’s Life at the Shore:
James J. Leonard Jr., Esq. President/CEO
the All new
Sports Betting – What Might Have Been
14 Why Michelle Dawn Mooney ‘s October 15 Geator Gab 20 Straight Talk: 20 Questions with Harry Hurley 24 On the Scene 25 The RNS Bag Ladies Luncheon
Creative Director
Smoke Interrogation: Jon Henderson
Don P. Hurley Beverly Bird Regina Schaffer Danielle Davies
26 There’s No Place Like Home 28 Author Rachel Simon on Hearts & Homes 32 Best of the Beach: 8906 Ventnor Ave., Margate
Ginny Leith
Copy Editor Lee Carroll
Features Writers
James Leonard Jr. believes the children are the future. Pictured here with Atlantic City’s own Ya’Qub Dabney.
36 Republican’s Regain Strength in Atlantic County 40 Atlantic City Remembers Boxing Champ Arturo ‘Thunder’ Gatti
4 2 Pat D’Arcy, Esq.: Bringing a Team Philosophy to Law 44 Tilton Fitness: Get Focused on You 45 Shore Memorial Hospital Offering Preventive Screenings for Vascular Health
46 NASCAR Star Martin Truex Jr.: Racing to Lend a Helping Hand
48 Neill Borowski: Chief Watchdog at the A.C. Press 50 In Search of the Jersey Devil 54 Something for Everyone This Halloween 56 Mike Miss: Jury Still Out on Eagle’s Vick Move 57 The Bet Man Hopes for Another Red October 60 Who Says Trick-or-Treating is for Kids? 61 Bet You Didn’t Know: The Atlantic City Airport 62 Boardwalk Beauty: Jeanine Whittaker
wine bAr @ top oF the trop
AtlAntic city’s premier wine bAr
Featured Columnists
FeAturing A spectAculAr View oF AtlAntic city’s skyline
Michelle Dawn Mooney Mike Missanelli Chuck Betson The Geator with the Heater Lloyd D. Levenson, Esq. Gary Hill
now open sundAy – FridAy
Contributing Writers Tina Leonard Veronica Dudo Marjorie Ross Jason Smedley Anthony Russo
Fine wine And chAmpAgne delicious Appetizers From A smAll plAte menu
International Gaming Advisor & General Counsel Lloyd D. Levenson, Esq.
liVe entertAinment
Trademark & Copyright Counsel Joseph L. Youngblood iii, Esq.
Distribution
Island Hopper Distributors Matthew Leonard 1200 Atlantic Avenue | Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 (609) 345-0500 | www.Boardwalkjournal.com boardwalkjournal@gmail.com
On the cover: Assembleyman Vince Polistina, Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher J. Christie and Assemblyman John F. Amodeo photographed at the Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, September 2009 by Don P. Hurley
1-800-the trop | www.tropicAnA.net | brighton & the boArdwAlk, AtlAntic city, nJ 08401
4 | The Boardwalk Journal
October 2009
must be 21.
simple. seasonal. sensual.
LIVE IN CONCERT
TONY BENNETT traditional dishes creative cocktails asian beer & sake happy hours
NOVEMBER 6 & 7 For show tickets, call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com Go mobile with us!
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Big Trouble for Marty Small
Don Marrandino Comes Home ...and takes over
Councilman and 13 Others Indicted for Voter Fraud By Regina Schaffer Election season is in full swing in Atlantic City, and another sitting Councilman may be facing possible jail time just in time for it - this time for alleged voter fraud. High profile Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small and thirteen individuals who allegedly worked on his unsuccessful 2009 mayoral campaign were indicted last month on charges that they conspired to commit election fraud during the June Democratic primary through a variety of schemes involving messenger absentee ballots, said Attorney General Anne Milgram. According to Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni, the Division of Criminal Justice obtained a 10-count state grand jury indictment charging all fourteen defendants with second-degree conspiracy, with four counts of second-degree election fraud, with absentee ballot fraud, with tampering with public records, falsifying records, and forgery. Small is among four defendants who are also charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution for allegedly providing false statements to investigators. The second-degree charges of conspiracy and election fraud carry a maximum sentence of ten years in state prison. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation
By Jason Smedley
led by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau and the State Police Official Corruption Bureau South Unit. The 35-year-old Small was previously indicted on similar charges in 2005. He was acquitted in 2006 following a trial in Atlantic County Superior Court. “Councilman Small and his co-defendants are charged with seeking to corrupt the election process,” Milgram said. “We charge that they disenfranchised voters by destroying messenger ballots that were voted for Small’s opponents, and submitting ballots as votes for Small from people who never received them. This conduct is a violation of the fundamental right to vote and the right of the electorate to have their vote counted.” The indictment alleges that Small and the other defendants conspired to commit election fraud through a number of schemes, including soliciting applications for messenger absentee ballots from individuals not qualified to receive them, and having the voters not fill in the name of the messenger so that they could fraudulently designate themselves as the authorized messengers or bearers. They allegedly picked up sealed absentee ballots
Embattled city councilman Marty Small
from voters, unsealed them, and, if they were votes for mayoral candidates other than Small, they allegedly destroyed them, thereby disenfranchising those voters, said Milgram. If they were votes for Small, they allegedly resealed them and submitted them as votes. Among the more egregious charges, the campaign allegedly held an ‘autograph party’ where messengers selected by Small or by other defendants would then fill in their own names as designated messengers on absentee ballot applications where that information had been left blank by the voters. Sources close to Small say that he has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and that he looks forward to clearing his name. “The truth will come to light, and at the end of the day, Marty Small will be found not guilty…again,” said a longtime Small supporter outside of Omar and Abdullah’s Barbershop in Atlantic City. Jason Smedley contributed to this story.
Atlantic City has changed greatly in recent years. Yet Angelo’s, located in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City, is a restaurant that has endured and flourished for three generations of Mancuso’s - since 1935 - making this restaurant an institution in Atlantic City. More than seventy years of dining excellence have made our homestyle Italian menu age like a fine Italian wine. Through the years, Angelo’s has become a perennial gathering place for friends and a haven for the hungry. We hope you find your dining experience with us a most pleasurable one. Bon Appetite! The Mancuso Family
2300 Fairmount Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 P: 609-344-2439 F: 609-348-1043 • angelosfairmounttavern.com
Professionally and personally, life has come full circle for Don Marrandino.
Imperial Palace, O’Shea’s, Flamingo Las Vegas and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Casino.
A Brigantine native and 1977 Holy Spirit High School graduate, Marrandino broke into the casino industry in 1981 as a $5-an-hour front desk clerk at Bally’s Atlantic City. After a 20-year side trip to Las Vegas, where he climbed the casino corporate ladder, Marradino returned to Atlantic City in September as Eastern Division president of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.
Marrandino, a die-hard surfer and runner who missed his frequent jogs on the Atlantic City Boardwalk during his Las Vegas tenure, developed a reputation in Las Vegas as an entertainment dealmaker and innovator.
Marrandino, 50, replaces J. Carlos Tolosa, who is retiring at the end of the year after nearly 40 years with the world’s largest gaming company and its predecessors. “What an incredible challenge and an amazing turn of events,” says Marrandino, who hopes to build on the initiatives developed by Tolosa and his team while looking for new ways to approach the ever-evolving gaming and entertainment business. “To assume this important position with the world’s largest gaming company, and to do it in my home town, is something I would have never dreamed of,” Marrandino adds. “Just about every member of my family lives within a few miles of Atlantic City.” After learning the ropes of both the hotel and casino ends of the industry in Atlantic City, Marrandino moved to Las Vegas in 1989, where he worked at the Rio, Station Casinos, the Hard Rock and Wynn Las Vegas before returning to Harrah’s Entertainment six years ago as president of Harrah’s Las Vegas, the
Welcome
During his brief stint as chief operating officer at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, Marrandino signed the Rolling Stones to perform in the casino’s 4,000-seat venue known as The Joint, one of the smallest rooms the legendary rock band played in years.
New Harrah’s boss Don Marrandino
executives in Las Vegas proves how successful he has been in taking a hands-on approach to working with and developing his employees.”
After assuming his position with the Harrah’s properties, he convinced Donny and Marie Osmond, who hadn’t performed together in years, to not only reunite on stage but to sign a long-term contract at the Flamingo. One of Marrandino’s last acts before leaving Las Vegas was to extend the wildly successful Donny and Marie contract for another two years.
In his new role, Marrandino will oversee Harrah’s four Atlantic City properties - Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort, Bally’s Atlantic City and Showboat along with Harrah’s Chester in Pennsylvania.
In announcing Marrandino’s promotion, Gary Loveman, chairman, president and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, called him “one of the most energetic, engaging and creative leaders in our company.
Since there are few surfing opportunities in the Nevada desert, Marradino, who’s been known to hang out with members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and counts rocker Sammy Hagar and country singer Toby Keith among his close friends, is hoping to hit the surf on a regular basis and wear out some running shoes on the Boardwalk. Provided, of course, he can find the time.
“Don is probably most well-known for his innovative entertainment strategies, but he is more than just ‘Mr. Entertainment’,” Loveman says. “Throughout his career, he has shown an unwavering dedication to service and a knack for cultivating innovation. And the fact that Don is one of the most popular and respected
to
“I believe Don’s energy and unique vision will bring new enthusiasm to our hard-working and talented teams in the Atlantic City and Chester markets,” Loveman adds.
“Unfortunately, I’m something of a work-a-holic,” he says with a laugh.
AtlAntic city
To all our Atlantic City visitors, the members of UNITE HERE! Local 54, the hotel and restaurant employees union, extend a warm and sincere welcome. The members of UNITE HERE! Local 54 are professionals in Atlantic City’s hospitality industry and we take our responsibility of making you feel welcome and comfortable very seriously. We hope that your stay here will be enhanced by good service and, if you’d like to reward an employee for that good service, here are a few guidelines you may wish to consider.
Bartenders & Cocktail Waitresses:
Most casinos offer free drinks to players at tables and slot machines. A tip of $1-$2 is the norm for good service. If you get a round of drinks (four or more), you might add a few extra dollars.
Bell Captain, Bellman & Doorman:
The usual tip is $1-$2 per bag. The bell and door staff are also a valuable source of information and can perform many services, such as arranging for shows or travel, so tipping an extra $5 is not unreasonable. Also, give $1 or $2 to the doorman who calls a cab for you.
Maids/Housekeepers:
$2 a day per person is suggested, usually left at the end of your visit.
Showroom Servers:
$5 to $10 for a party of two to four at a cocktail show only; $10-$20 for a dinner show for the same size group depending on service.
We thank
Showroom Maitre d’s & Ushers:
In a few showrooms where seating is not reserved but remains at the discretion of the Maitre d’, a tip of $5 to $20 helps you get your desired seating. You might want to tip the usher a few dollars ($2-$5) for his or her courtesy even if you have pre-assigned seating.
Restaurant & Room Service:
Waiters and waitresses usually receive 15-20% of the bill, depending on the service.
Valet Parking Attendants:
A tip of $1-$2 each time the attendant takes or brings your car is appreciated.
you for staying with us and hope that our service encourages a return visit in the near future.
Buffet Severs:
A few dollars per person for drink service and busing the table during the meal is appreciated. a century of excellence
UNITE HERE! LocaL 54
the raw feed On October 19, 2007, The Sands Hotel and Casino, once home to legends like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Cher was imploded, the result of a spectacular explosion that reduced the once grand structure to a pile of rubble in mere seconds. Another implosion has been slowly taking place in Atlantic City, though not as swift or spectacular, its impact to those involved is just as devastating as the 400 pounds of dynamite that brought down the Sands. “Team Small”, the name given to Marty Small’s once promising political organization, has been bombarded with adversity since failing to beat Mayor Lorenzo Langford in the June Democratic Primary. First, 19 year old Dafiq Rasheed, a “Team Small” political superstar would die tragically in a swimming accident one month after the election. Two months later, Marty Small and 13 “Team Small” members would be indicted on allegations that they engaged in voter fraud in the June election. According to well-placed sources the case was built in large part from recorded conversations taped for the New Jersey State Police by a “Team Small” defector. For his part, Small has been here before, beating a similar rap in 2006. He would go on to declare himself “The Future” and his slogan for his ill-fated mayoral run was “The Future is Now.” What Small’s future, or the 13 others who were charged with him will be is a question that will most likely be answered by an Atlantic County jury sometime in late 2010 or early 2011. Small, who was represented in his 2006 trial by Atlantic City super attorney Edwin Jacobs Jr. may or may not have the legendary barrister in his corner this time. Sources close to the embattled city councilman say that Small is extremely cash strapped and will not be able to afford the services of a high priced attorney. “Stand Tall” was another “Team Small” motto, this one from a successful 2007 re-election bid for his second ward council seat and anyone who knows Marty Small knows that he at 6’4, he does in fact stand tall. Lets hope, for his sake, that the 13 others standing with him will do the same...
James J. Leonard Jr., Esq.
A Full Service Litigation Firm
R
You’ve probably heard of “The French Connection”, the 1971 crime drama that scored Gene Hackman an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of NYPD detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle. The question is, have you heard of The Chinese Connection? That connection, a $1.7 billion dollar deal between Atlantic City’s Revel Entertainment and The China State Construction Engineering Corp., which is the construction arm of the Chinese Government, should see to it that Revel’s oceanfront Casino will be open for business in the summer of 2011.
Criminal Law Municipal Court / DWI Traffic Matters Family Law • Divorce Personal Injury Immigration Law Casino Licensing
The ongoing saga between the Casino Control Commission and “the other” Joey Merlino, not to be confused with his cousin, jailed mob boss “Skinny” Joey Merlino have become quite an attraction for media and mob watchers alike during the endless proceedings that have been running for the last few weeks at CCC headquarters located at Tennessee Avenue and the Boardwalk. A gang of retired FBI agents including Jim Darcy, Gary Langan and Larry Schneider have testified on behalf of Joseph N. Merlino and his mother Phyllis Merlino, indicating that they were not involved in organized crime activity. We believe that Commissioner William Sommeling, who will rule on Merlino’s ability to obtain a casino license should pay close attention to the testimony of these three highly decorated and very respected former federal agents and grant the Merlino’s their license.
(609) 345-5800
Lastly, for those of you who have not seen the You Tube video entitled “Atlantic City 1951”, go to your computer and watch the approximate 8 minute video in which the narrator dubs Atlantic City “the vacation capital of the nation”. Just think, this was before we had casinos, high end shopping or hookers...
www.LeonardLawGroup.com October 2009
The Boardwalk Journal | 11
Lloyd D. Levenson’s – “Life at the Shore”
Lloyd D. Levenson’s
SPORTSSports BETTING – Betting WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
—
“For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, ‘it might have been.’” – John Greenleaf Whittier
Not a day goes by when I do not think about how much Atlantic City lost as the result of a c y n i c a l political maneuver way back in 1993. An Assembly Speaker at the time who wanted to suppress, oops, hold down, inner city voting in order to help the gubernatorial candidate of the speaker’s party, thought he had a good idea. Under a Federal statute, New Jersey could have legalized sports betting at the Atlantic City casinos, something which almost everybody thought was a great idea. Problem was, a referendum on sports betting would have had to have gone on the ballot that fall, and some crafty political minds thought that if it was on the ballot, more voters from the inner city would come out to vote in order to support it, and those same
“Life at the Shore”
Lloyd Sept 09
Page Sports Bet
9/24/09
Published Saturday July 10, 1993
voters would also be more likely to vote for the incumbent Governor, who the Assembly Speaker wanted unseated. (Are you following this?)
“Sex, Drugs, ‘N’ Rock ‘N’ Roll” - Guns ‘N’ Roses So sports gambling never got on the ballot; the time for New Jersey to take advantage of the Federal statute expired;
and we find ourselves, in 2009, surrounded by an ever-growing wolf pack of competitors for the gambling market. Maybe it is not so surprising that the unintended consequences of these electoral shenanigans 16 years ago have been so disastrous. There is no question but that Atlantic City would be far more competitive today if sports gambling were part of the Lloyd D. Levenson is Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic City-based law firm Cooper Levenson and Chairman of the firm’s Casino Law Department in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Mr. Levenson may be reached at (609)344-3161 or by email at llevenson@cooperlevenson.com.
Page 2
Lloyd D. Levenson’s – “Life at the Shore”
What Might Have Been SPORTS BETTING – WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN (continued) overall entertainment package which we can offer to our guests. Neither I nor the industry nor the State of New Jersey intends to be limited to our regrets however. The State is actively pursuing litigation which could clear the way for sports gambling in Atlantic City and help restore our preeminence in the industry. I applaud that effort, and hope it will succeed.
By JERRY GRAY
12:35 PM
Our chief adversary now is not a crafty politician but the hypocritical leadership of the professional sporting world. They vehemently oppose legalized sports betting as immoral and a threat to the integrity of “the game,” although they know that illegal wagering has flourished for many decades. I call them hypocrites because of their feigned shock at the notion that responsible adults might want to wager on the outcome of a game, at the same time the owners and bosses of the sports’ franchises are greedily pocketing revenues from almost anyone willing to buy advertising during a game. The odds are that you know precisely what I am talking about because you have sat down on a Sunday afternoon to watch a football game with your 10year-old daughter and your 13-yearold son, and you sit there and squirm while they watch commercial after commercial gushing about the benefits of erectile dysfunction medication, while warning that you might want to visit the emergency room if you have an erection lasting more than four hours. This is followed by a barrage of advertisements for beer, and then, ironically enough, by ads to promote the freer passage of urine out of the system. Studies confirm that
October 2009
half of the commercial breaks during an NFL game include one or more ads for sex, drugs, or alcohol. When outraged parents recently confronted the NFL and other sports leagues with complaints about ads of this sort, they were met with bland, patronizing statements that the leagues “understood their concern” but had absolutely no intention of changing their policy. The NFL admits that it has a list of products and sponsors that are acceptable, as well as a list of those which are
casino gaming in the State of New Jersey, will sully the reputation of professional sports. References by the leagues, and particularly the NFL, to “tradition” and to the supposed immorality of gambling, become more obviously hypocritical with each passing day. The leagues are perfectly aware of the billions of dollars wagered year after year in unlawful and unregulated betting pools in every town, village, and hamlet across the United States. The NFL does nothing to discourage the posting of “lines” and odds in newspapers, on television, and over the internet, knowing full well that this information is not provided simply to satisfy the curiosity of statisticians or math majors. The continued reality of sports betting is a given. What professional sports should recognize is that the best way to safeguard the prestige and integrity of the game is to make legal and well-regulated that which already exists. The beneficiaries of this new policy of realism would be the State, its citizens, and ultimately, the sport itself.
Our chief adversary now is not a crafty politician but the hypocritical leadership of the professional sporting world. They vehemently oppose legalized sports betting as immoral and a threat to the integrity of “the game,” although they know that illegal wagering has flourished for So sports gambling never got on the ballot; the time for many decades. New Jersey to take advantage unacceptable; it is frankly difficult to of the Federal statute expired; understand what could be more and we find ourselves, in unacceptable and objectionable than what they are already showing. I 2009, surrounded by an suspect that the cutoff between ever-growing wolf pack of “acceptable” and “unacceptable” is a competitors for the gambling purely monetary one, rather than one market. based upon any moral niceties. My point is that it is extraordinarily difficult to swallow the argument that legalized sports betting, conducted in a highly regulated and supervised atmosphere, such as that which governs
Lloyd D. Levenson’s Life at the Shore appears each month in the Boardwalk Journal
The Boardwalk Journal | 13
FR EE ! JUNE 2009
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Good God! Th
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G E A T O r
By Jerry Blavat
ThE ‘GEaToR’ STill Gold aFTER 50 YEaRS a TRip down MEMoRiES lanE wiTh JERRY BlavaT
I’ve always loved October, ever since I was little. You can’t beat the A 3-year-old crisp feel of Michelle Dawn Mooney the autumn air prepares to make a wish.... and the look of leaves bathed in the most amazing hues of yellows and reds... and then there’s my birthday. I guess it stands to reason that most children probably hold a special place in their heart for their birth month. While my birthday falls at the end of the month, when I was younger, there was immediate excitement with the arrival of the first day of October, because it was almost my birthday! It seemed the day couldn’t come fast enough…when I would be carrying in a tray of cupcakes for all of my classmates. Today, it’s a different story. Gone are the days when someone asks you how old you are and your answer includes fractions to make you seem that much closer to hitting that new benchmark…I mean, who hasn’t claimed to be 6 and ¾’s, right? Now, however, the answer
usually includes, ‘I don’t want to talk about it’, or sometimes a seemingly sudden hearing loss that permits you from having to honor the request at all. I’ll be honest, I think I stopped telling people my age when I was 19 or 20, figuring that years down the road, when people typically “start” lying about their age, people would have actually lost track…(I’m hoping it will work-haha). There is however, a lot to be said for having a few birthdays under your belt. As I’ve grown older in the news business I’ve come to realize just how very precious each and every day is. Too often, I myself, get so caught up in the craziness of my “to do” lists and calendar of events, that I forget to sit back and actually appreciate what I’m doing, and the people who are with me along the way. How very insignificant that bad hair day, broken heel, or spilled coffee seems when you’re reading about the Good Samaritan who was struck and killed while helping a stranger change a flat tire…or the six year-old with cancer trying to find a cure by selling cups of lemonade. It definitely puts things into perspective.
So, with this next birthday upon me, not only am I doing the typical reflection of what I’ve (hopefully) accomplished and what I still want to do, but I’m thinking about those who have helped shape those goals…and I’m asking you to do the same. Each month, I would like to introduce the public to someone who has had a positive impact on you, or someone you know. There are so many people making a difference in our area who never get the credit they truly deserve, and I need your help to see that they do. I’m encouraging you to email me your stories of people who have made ‘Moments that Matter” to mmooney@nbc40.net. In the meantime, over the next few months, I’ll be sharing a few ideas and events that will hopefully have you making more moments that matter…cause before you know it, another birthday will have come and gone.
Michelle Dawn Mooney Live in Concert Friday October 16th at 7:30 pm at La Fontana in Strathmere. For more information, please call 609-263-7700.
Happy Birthday To Me . . . And It’s Free?
Primo’s Pizza (Somers Point, Ocean City or EHT locations only) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
Free Slice & Soda
Free Small Coffee
Ocean City Coffee Company (928 Boardwalk, Ocean City) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
Formica Brothers (Atlantic City or Northfiled Locations) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
Free Small Cannoli or Slice of Tomato Pie
ireland and old lace (On the Village Green in Historic Smithville) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
Free One-Day Pass
Free Dog or Cat Treat
TBJ 10/09
TBJ 10/09
Free Soap Sample
Free Irish Tea Bag Sample
TBJ 10/09
Pet Pros (112 Woodland Ave. #4, Somers Point) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
TBJ 10/09
Island Gym (Absecon, EHT, Ventnor, Northfield) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
I wanted all of you to be able to celebrate my birthday with me…with the help of a few favorite stores and shops in our area. The businesses you see around this article have generously agreed to give a “birthday gift” to anyone who
LITTLE EGG HARBOR SOAP COMPANY (At Historic Smithville) One coupon per person, per promotion Name: Email:
The reporter decided to go on the hunt to find anything and everything free for those hitting that yearly milestone known as the “birthday”. You may have even heard of some chain restaurants who, upon proof of your birth date,
brings in the coordinating coupon. From a cup of joe, to a treat for your dog Bo, you can have your pizza and cannoli and eat it too…just work it off afterwards at the gym! Follow that with a nice hot shower with some handmade soap and relax with a cup of Irish tea before calling it a day. Even better, each coupon will register you to win you’re very own gourmet birthday cake…with the winner being announced in the December issue. So go ahead and enjoy!
TBJ 10/09
offer a free dessert, free party hat, or in some cases free singing of ‘Happy Birthday” done in another language, turned around, upside down, or something ridiculous like that. Well, that’s not what I’m doing here.
TBJ 10/09
Now, I’d like to take full credit for this little idea I’m about to tell you about, but alas, it was inspired by a story done by one of our NBC national correspondents, although I decided to give it a little twist.
Once again, greetings and salutations. And let’s call it a ball in the fall. Halloween is right around the corner, and coming your way in October, not only the Baby Boomers Rock & Roll Revival at La Costa in Sea Isle Saturday, October 3, but Fabulous ‘50s weekend in Wildwood. We’ll kick it off Friday, October 16, with a gigantic dance party at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Then, of course, that Saturday you’ve got the Philly Boys with my man, Frankie Avalon. And yep, we’ll have for you the exclusive Philly Boys T-shirt featuring Frankie, Chubby, the Liberty Bell, the official Phillies logo, and yours truly, the Geator. This T-shirt was designed by Frank Avalon Jr. and is really a classic. So when you visit the Fabulous ‘50s weekend in Wildwood, make sure you see them. They’ll be on display out in the lobby at the Convention Center. And October is still a great month down at the shore. My buddy Bubba Mac still does his thing at the Atlantic City Country Club with the Blues Band on Thursdays. Plus lots of folks on the weekends in Margate, Ventnor, Longport, and Brigantine – folks like Beth and John Turchi, the Lipsons, who have Philly magazine, along with Patti Leeds and her family and my old friend Richie Helfant, who’s the man responsible for the success of Lucy the Elephant. Of course we can’t forget one of my all-time favorite attorneys, Eddie Jacobs Jr. and his lovely wife, Linda, who live 52 weeks a year down the shore. Occasionally Eddie, whose practice is in A.C., comes up and joins the rest of the legal guys with the Geator at a fabulous restaurant, Modo Mio, at 2nd and Girard. My buddy Pete McAndrews, the owner, creates Italian dishes that are extraordinary and that you will find at no other Italian restaurant. And the great thing is that it’s BYO. If you’d like to make a reservation, I suggest you call 215/203-8707 and mention the Geator’s name. Ask for Melissa.
ticketmaster.com, or at the Taj Box Office. For more information call 609/449-5150.
my buddy George Toth, we’re at the Springfield Inn on Baltimore Pike.
With the coming of the New Year, hard to believe, but the Geator will be celebrating 50 years on radio. We’ll celebrate with a gala anniversary show in January at the Kimmel Center. This will be our 19th show, and they have all been sellouts. We’ll announce the lineup shortly.
On Saturdays it’s one-nighters all around the tristate area. And on Sundays starting at 5 we’ll be doing special events at Café Madison in Riverside, NJ, and also the Note in West Chester. For my complete schedule on line, check geator.net.
And with the 50th anniversary, stay tuned for a lot more exciting things happening, including news about the book I’m in the process of writing about my life and all the years that you and I have shared magical memories together. Meanwhile, back in Philly, it’s dancing as usual. Wednesdays nights we do our live broadcast from Philly Park Casino from 5 to 7, and their brandnew venue will open up in December. You are going to love the new 360 bar with lighted dance floor, light show, and the works! Thursdays you can join us at the Buck Hotel in Feasterville. And yep, on Fridays, when we’re not appearing at the mount Airy Casino Resort for
And a reminder about our fabulous Malt Shop Memories Cruise to Cozumel May 13-17, 2010, with Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Lesley Gore, Lou Christie, the Drifters, the Platters, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and your host, the Geator. Call 877-223-7030 or go to MaltShopCruise.com for more info. But make sure, if you’re going to sail with us, that you mention the Geator, or use the promo code JERRY when booking on line, and you’ll be eligible to win $500 in casino chips and be part of the private Geator events on board. Well, that’s it for this month - I’ve got to run. But I’ll be back next month, same time, same place in the Boardwalk Journal. Till then, a reminder that you’ve got to keep on rocking, ‘cause you only rock once.
Ducktown’s original
And talking about food, my other pal down south, Stevie Martorano from Café Martorano in Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas, has published his autobiography, Yo Cuz: It Ain’t Sauce, It’s Gravy, which will be out by the end of the month. For more info, check out Stevie’s website, cafemartorano.com. Well, before you can wink an eye, Thanksgiving will be here, then the holidays, then New Year’s Eve. And once again we will have our gala New Year’s Eve party at the Trump Taj Mahal. This event is the best party in town and is always sold out well in advance. You can get tickets by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 on line at www.
October 2009
1909-2009 Celebrating Our 100th Year Visit us at www.randoBakery.com
The Boardwalk Journal | 15
TBJ 10/09
Celebrating all aspects of
Atlantic City and life at the Jersey Shore n Search of The Jersey Devil
A Ten Bell Salute for Arturo “Thunder” Gatti
Plus: ‘Straight Talk’ with Harry Hurley, Author Rachel Simon and Michelle Dawn Mooney Shares Her Birthday Celebration...With You!!!
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Mob Talk: 20 Questions with George Anastasia
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Mainland Coach Bob Coffey Chases the Perfect Season
Who Needs Napa? A Tour of Cape May’s Top Wineries
In Search of The Jersey Devil
A Ten-Bell Salute for Arturo “Thunder” Gatti
Plus: ‘Straight Talk” with Harry Hurley, Author Rachel Simon and Michelle Dawn Mooney shares her birthday celebration...with you!!!
Sinatra’S right-hand Man, Back to School at Stockton & accc, dolphin ‘56’ & the prince of ducktown
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JUNE 2009
JULY JULY2009 2009
Chazz
Palminteri Brings ‘a Bronx tale’ to atlantiC City
Business
August 2009 u
Miss America Returns to Atlantic City!
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Mr. Tony Bennett & the ‘Good Life’
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Skinny D’Amato , The 500 Club & La Dolce Vita
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Summer Days: A History of the Ocean City Beach Patrol
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ThE ‘GEaToR’ STill Gold aFTER 50 YEaRS a TRip down MEMoRiES lanE wiTh JERRY BlavaT
January 2009
June 2009
Vince Polistina
langford Ko’s small F inside the east Coast gaming Congress disCover the CaPe may County ParK & zoo F Jane seymour visits galloway
July 2009
Cooper Levenson: 50 Years of exCeLLenCe in Law
August 2009
‘walk’ this way ‘outlets’ revolutionize retail in atlantic city
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Chris Christie
John Amodeo
Back to thE FutuRE The Return of The Grand Old Party
September 2009
Casinos
October 2009
R e s tau r a n t s
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Nightlife
We thank you for your continued support.
E n t e r ta i n m e n t S h o pp i n g R e a l E s tat e Design Fashion Sp o r t s
Atlantic City Boardwalk, 1964.
October is Corporate Open Enrollment Month!
announcingSHORE TOMORROW
THE CAMPAIGN FOR SHORE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Until October 31, 2009.
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Interested in a Corporate Fitness Program? Contact info@tiltonfitness.com or visit our website. NORTHFIELD • GALLOWAY • MAYS LANDING • STAFFORD TWP. This offer is good to all employees of Tilton Fitness Corporate Partners. Must be 18 years of age or older. ID required. Offer expires October 31, 2009. See club for details.
Expanded Parking to greatly improve parking and accessibility
In support of this major expansion program, the Shore Memorial Health Foundation has launched Shore Tomorrow – The Campaign for Shore Memorial Hospital, a five-year effort to raise $20 million toward these projects. As we embark on this bold mission to ensure the future of the area’s healthcare for generations to come, we invite you to be a part of it with your gift to the Shore Tomorrow Campaign. Help build the Shore Memorial Hospital of tomorrow... today! For more information or to make a donation visit ShoreTomorrow.com or call 609-653-3800.
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Questions with Harry Hurley
Harry Hurley is the host of Hurley in the Morning, one of the longest running talk shows in the history of the South Jersey market. Hurley is known by many as ‘The Mayor of the Morning’, largely due to his reputation for passion-driven constituent service. He refers to his show as “The Truth in Broadcasting”, promising not just opinion, but truthful twoway dialog. The Boardwalk Journal went noholds-barred with our 20 Questions Segment this month with Harry Hurley, and Hurley did not disappoint. Here are his trademark hardhitting and candid responses. Hands down, Harry Hurley is the area’s biggest ball breaker. Fair statement? I wouldn’t use the term ball breaker. However, I get your point. They told former President Harry Truman to “Give ‘em hell, Harry”. President Truman responded, “I gave them the truth. They only thought it was hell.” The “Truth in Broadcasting” is our motto and it’s the foundation of all of our efforts. No one else in the metro market will do it. Hence, we’re given the HOV lane all to ourselves. I’m not complaining even after all these years. You’ve been a media titan for the last nineteen years, the undisputed ‘Mayor of The Morning’. There are a handful of other ‘prominent’ local talk show hosts, but no one does what you do. For the two or three people out there who have never listened to your show, what exactly do you do each morning? Hurley in the Morning is in its nineteenth year, and that alone is rare in this business. Longevity is hard to attain. And when you hit as hard as we do, it’s just about unprecedented. Our work involves hitting politicians with kindness, or heavy criticism. We hand out doses of each on a daily basis. But the program isn’t just about politics. We raise more money to help needy charities than all the other outlets put together. We take our philanthropic work very seriously. They are still only several hundred people in America who have earned the privilege of having a daily talk radio program. It’s something I’ll never take for granted.
our severely infected political state. He’s made county prosecutors and the Attorney General finally do their jobs. He embarrassed them into it. Christie’s performance as United States Attorney for New Jersey was unprecedented. He’ll win the race for Governor. It will be a comfortable win, despite him being outspent more than ten to one in the end. How do you see the Republicans finishing in the Assembly and Freeholder races in Atlantic and Cape May Counties? The District 1 Assembly race is very interesting. The Democratic incumbents, Nelson Albano and Matt Milam, may successfully swim against the massive anti-Corzine political tide. Mike Donahue and John McCann are in deep trouble in this race. I’m predicting that both Democrats win in District 1. Donahue has a shot to break through. In District 2, it’s incumbents Vince Polistina and John Amodeo in a rout. This race is not competitive. Most District 2 voters can’t even name the two Democrats in the race. Republicans will sweep the Atlantic County Freeholder seats with Curcio, Giordano, and Formica all winning by a wide margin. Before retiring in 2007, Senator Bill Gormley was seen as South Jersey’s political capo di tutti capi, the boss of all bosses. Looking back over his 25 year career as State Senator, how would you define his legacy? This region and the state have sorely missed Bill Gormley, probably a whole lot more than many thought they would. Jim Whelan’s total ineffectiveness and the lack of respect he garners from the District and the potentates in Trenton have really weakened the attention we receive as a region. The District 2 State Senator has always been highly respected and very powerful. Farley delivered the Atlantic City Expressway. Perskie is the undisputed architect of the Casino Control Act. Gormley delivered the casino industry as we know it, the CRDA, and the many benefits Atlantic City and the region have achieved.
You’ve been very vocal about your support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie. Will he win on November 3? And why?
In 2006 and 2007, you were relentless in your criticism of Bob Levy and Craig Callaway. Both are now convicted felons and forever enshrined in the Hall of Shame. Why was it so important for you to lead the crusade to remove them from power?
Christopher J. Christie has earned my support. He’s a transformational candidate. He’s cleansed
I was, in fact, relentless about Craig Callaway and Bob Levy. Someone had to be. The local
Governor on the South Jersey Transportation Board. And, in a rare political trifecta, McDevitt is also the Chairman of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee. If he wants it, he’d be a great mayor of Atlantic City. He’s a consensus builder. He’s a property owner in the First Ward. He’s a white man who garners great respect from the minority community. He possesses real cross-over appeal.
Talk radio king Harry Hurley media blatantly laid down on the job. They left Harry and Don Hurley to do all the heavy lifting. Callaway was the puppet master and Levy was his puppet. They were bad for free and fair elections in our region. Levy was a fraud and an unworthy false occupant of the office. Simply put, they had to go. Dateline Atlantic City, the June 2009 Democratic Primary. Marty Small gets stomped like a NARC at a biker rally. Fast forward three months later and he’s indicted on allegations that he was involved in a voter fraud conspiracy. Politically speaking, is the career of Marty Small over? If Marty Small is convicted, his political career is obviously over. However, he’ll probably be defeated before disposition of his current case. That’s not fair, but that’s the way this will most likely play out. His case may not be resolved before he stands for reelection. With these second degree criminal charges hanging over his head, a challenger will likely defeat him for his second ward seat. His run for mayor has come at a great personal and professional price. Speaking of political careers being over, why hasn’t Joe Polillo gotten the memo after all these years? When Joe Polillo looks into the mirror, he sees a ‘mayor’ staring back at him. When most residents of Atlantic City look at Polillo, they see King Neptune or ZZ Top. He’s not a serious, legitimate candidate. Union President Bob McDevitt has been one of Atlantic City’s most influential leaders for over a decade. Many people would love to see Bob McDevitt as the mayor of Atlantic City. Will this ever happen? Bob is one of the smartest leaders in South Jersey. As president of our largest union, McDevitt has shined. He also serves as an appointee of the
Monday - Friday, 7-11 AM
WIBG.COM • HarryHurley.com
The Mayor of the Morning
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Harry Hurley
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You’ve been closely aligned with Mayor Langford for years, serving as friend and confidant. After he lost his bid for re-election in 2005, many wrote him off. You did not. When you told people that Langford would one day return as mayor, people looked at you like you were deranged. As he prepares to embark on another four year term, it is essentially ‘prophecy fulfilled.’ How does that make you feel? I knew that Langford wasn’t finished after his loss to Levy in 2005. Yes, I think I was a crowd of one who felt that way. I was willing to embrace the truth. I knew he was wronged. I knew the residents of Atlantic City would learn the truth. I’m so happy for Langford. If you’ve ever had something stolen from you, you know how Langford felt. He’s earned this second chance and he deserves this second chance. I’m proud of my role in being intellectually honest about Langford, even though it’s usually politically unpopular to do so. Langford is a great and loyal friend of mine. I’m very proud of our relationship, which has always been based upon mutual respect and trust. Let’s talk about Rennie Langford the man, not the Mayor. Who is he? The thing most people don’t understand about Langford is that he’s not a political animal. In fact, he’s just the opposite. He’s the antipolitician, at heart and in practice. He’s the most willing elected official I’ve ever known to take politically unpopular stances. If he knows he’s doing right, he’s impervious to public criticism. He’s a good man. He’s a fair man. He loves sports. He loves music. He can sing, too. He’s a talented individual. Every year he takes children to the Penn Relays, to expose them to world class athletes. He’s also often the recipient of whispers that he’s a closet racist of sorts. Let’s set this record straight. Langford is not a racist. If Mayor Langford is to be taken at his word that this is his final term and he will not seek reelection in four years, who are the front runners to be Mayor in 2013? Langford is usually very good about keeping his word, but don’t be surprised if sometime during
2012, he doesn’t change his mind. Maybe he’ll go after the District 1 Freeholder seat in the future. But at this time there’s no heir apparent to Langford as the next mayor of Atlantic City.
Sonny McCullough has been Egg Harbor Township’s chief executive for more than two decades. Who will succeed him when he leaves office?
Two years ago, you were very critical of then Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeff Blitz and you supported Ted Housel, who would go on to replace Blitz. Lately, you’ve been very critical of Housel. If you could cast the sole vote to determine who would be the Atlantic County Prosecutor for the balance of the current term, who would it be and why?
James J. “Sonny” McCullough is a great leader and a great friend of mine. I proudly supported him over Frank Blee to follow Senator Gormley. I worked hard for his victory and I’m proud of my efforts. Sonny is a great mayor. He consistently keeps our local purpose taxes in Egg Harbor Township as low as humanly possible. I don’t know if you could ever replace a man like Sonny McCullough.
I publicly apologized to former Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz, but not before I privately called him to do the same. I’ve never publicly revealed that until now. Blitz was very gracious to me at the time of my call. I was very hard on him, especially after the Tad DeLorenzo prosecution. Yes, I ardently supported Ted Housel. I even publicly lobbied for Senator McCullough to approve the Governor’s selection. My judgment regarding Housel couldn’t have been more misplaced. His conduct bears watching. I’m hopeful that Governor Corzine will step in and take action. Putting the hypothetical aside, will Ted Housel finish out his term as prosecutor and will he be reappointed in 2012? Regardless of who wins the race for governor, I can easily see Housel leaving before his term is up. However, he still has three years remaining on his term. I’m confident that Housel will not be reappointed.
Your station owner Rick Brancadora has one of the most unique voices on the planet. Do you ever catch yourself doing Brancadora impersonations on commercial breaks? I know you’re trying to get me into trouble with this one, but I’ll bite. Yes, I do imitate Rick’s magic voice fairly often - off-the-air, of course. And no, I’ve never told him that I do this. But he’s gonna find out shortly. Rick’s magic pipes are so golden that he’s been heard over the years at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom on the monorail systems. I’ve often said that Rick has one-in-amillion ‘pipes’. His voice - the God-given, honest, and true resolution of it - is so rare. You almost never hear a voice so clean in nature. When you’re not mixing it up with Jim from Northfield, Andrea from Somers Point, or Willie Norwood, no malice, what are some of your guilty pleasures?
For the better part of the last two decades, Steve Young has been Atlantic City’s version of Al Sharpton, the city’s top civil rights activist. Enter a man named Gordon Sunkett. Many believe that Sunkett is emerging as the defacto leader of Atlantic City’s long embattled civil rights movement. Who is Gordon Sunkett and how does his style of leadership differ from Steve Young’s?
Sure, I’ll spill the beans about some of my guilty pleasures. I love watching the New York Yankees. I really enjoy reality television. I also like Lifetime movies. I like strong women. So for those who didn’t think that the hard-hitting Harry Hurley has a feminine side, I do. I like the story lines. I like it when good defeats evil. I like it when David beats Goliath.
Gordon Sunkett is a beautiful, color-blind man. He’s straight from central casting - a Marine who was significantly hurt on the battlefield of war, and the vice president of Reverend Sharpton’s National Action Network. He’s a uniter, not a divider. He intends to move to Atlantic City in the next few years. He’s already a great leader in this region. He’s not afraid to tackle tough issues. He says what needs to be said. He has credibility and stature. He’s effective in dealing with all races, creeds, and colors. He’s a very impressive man.
If you or someone you know has been arrested:
Speed round…. Immediately - if not sooner - call ‘Mr. Atlantic City’, James Leonard, Jr., at (609) 345-5800. For all of your personal injury needs: That’s an easy one. Call Paul D’Amato at (609) 926-3300. For the best in gourmet take-away, call: It’s the Mays Landing Golf and Country and the Fraser Family at (609) 641-4411.
Harry Hurley Presents
Wednesday, 8-9 AM
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On the Scene Past President/Current Chairwoman Nancy Law, Chairwoman Terry Calvi and RNS member Kathy Darcy
The very popular RNS “Bag Ladies Luncheon” was held Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point, NJ. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on a fabulous collection of designer bags from 10:30am to12:30pm, which was then followed by a wonderful lunch and presentation of awarding bidders.
Former RNS President Bea Klein Newborn and RNS Cancer and Heart Fund founder’s daughter Doritt Linsk
This fun event features a silent auction of “gently used” and brand new handbags contributed by members of the community and from local and national merchants. “The auction is fueled and supported by all local merchants. If it wasn’t for their generosity, this wouldn’t be the success that it is. That generosity knows no bounds,” said Nancy Law.
Model / actress and former WWE star Stephanie Bellars a/k/a ‘Gorgeous George’ loves The Boardwalk Journal and we love her.
ACCVA VP of Marketing Maureen Siman (third fro m left)
enjoys a night out with fri ends
For more information about the Bag Ladies Luncheon and other RNS events, contact the RNS office at (609) 927-4924. The next fun fundraiser is the RNS Ball November 7 at the Tropicana.
Smoke Interrogation Jon Henderson is an entrepreneur. At 35 years old, he’s president and owner of Unsuited Entertainment, the organization responsible for the Atlantic City Beer Festival and the Atlantic City Tattoo Extravaganza. He also owns and operates The Cigar Boxx on Tilton Road in Northfield.
Two distinguished gentleme Gerry Gormley and Ed Gurwn: icz
What’s in a name? Atlantic County CEO Dennis Levinson greets Cooper Levenson CEO Lloyd D. Levenson, Esq.
tor tic City solici Former Atlanwin Procopio, Esq. d Kimb erly Bal sband Anthony hu r he and
The Honorable L. Anthony Gibson and his lovely wife Lynn
ti, from North Jersey, Fabrizio Gat Boxing manager Pat Lynch, Mike rs Chuck Zito and Councilman actor and bodyguard to the sta Gatti’ Day in Atlantic City George Tibbitt celebrate ‘Arturo
And he has a real job to boot. Jon also works at Harrah’s Resort as Senior Executive of Customer Development. The Boardwalk Journal had the following questions for him. Is there anything you’re not involved in? Alligator wrestling is the only thing that comes to mind. But I’m working on that. I just have to find a willing alligator. Let’s talk about Atlantic City. Give us Jon Henderson’s ‘State of the City’ address. I’m a huge fan and supporter of Atlantic City. How can I not be? The city has done great things for me both personally and professionally. My personal opinion is that Atlantic City has yet to hit its stride. The city has just made the transition into being younger, hipper, edgier, in the last few years with the addition of night life components and dining experiences. I could rant and rave all day long on the growth
October 2009
potential here. I think we have some hurdles to overcome, and some of the gaming companies and tourism groups need to get on the same page, but that’s not too far off. The city itself is small, and with a city this small, it gives us an advantage in creating city-wide destination events that are supported by each property as well as the ACCVA and the CRDA. Working as one instead of as rivals will be in our best interest over the next few years. The market has changed and so have the players. Atlantic City is invariably compared to Las Vegas. On a national level, Las Vegas is perceived as a destination resort, while that distinction has typically eluded Atlantic City. Is that fair? Las Vegas can be seen from the moon. That city is huge. I don’t think such a comparison has ever been a fair judgment for Atlantic City. We’re a uniquely different environment. Let’s face it, at this point gaming is everywhere. Atlantic City is surrounded by neighboring states with gaming breathing down our neck. Las Vegas doesn’t have that problem. It just has to deal with being in the middle of the desert. I think some of the comparisons are fair on a service level between Atlantic City and Las
Cigar Boxx owner Jon Henderson lights one up in Northfield Vegas now that Atlantic City has established ‘The Resort Experience’ with Harrah’s Resort, with Caesar’s transition with The Pier, with the developments at the Taj Mahal and the Borgata, and with the new project next to Showboat. But we still haven’t scratched the surface as far as being a true destination resort area. Atlantic City has a ton of truly underutilized assets. A prime example is the beach. Other than a couple of beach bars, how often do you see the emphasis on the beach as part of the Atlantic City experience? And what about the now-vacant baseball stadium that would make for a great outdoor concert venue or (Continued on page 59)
The Boardwalk Journal | 25
There’s No Place Like
A
s summer blows gently out to sea and fall comes breezing in, my thoughts always turn to ‘nesting’. For me, fall is the most wonderful and energizing time of the year. It also serves as the official ‘New Year’ for home and fashion designs. Magazines are filled with ideas and trends hoping to entice us with their ‘must haves’, while fashion week in New York presents a catwalk of couture. Since the spaces we live in and the clothing we wear have such a strong marketing relationship, we often see similarities in suggested color and style advertisements. In this economy, however, ‘trend’ seems to be an insensitive word. How many of us can afford to purge our closets or redecorate our home simply because Vogue says ‘red is the color’ this year? In my design business and in my own life, I find myself using the word ‘simplicity’ more and more. While so many negatives have come out of these trying and stressful economic times, something good seems to have happened as well. Many of us find ourselves enjoying the simpler moments in life and the simpler pleasures of life. If we do make purchases, we want them to be priced fairly and of good, sound quality. We’re buying for the long term, not for the moment. Simplicity rings most true with our homes, where we can find many
26 | The Boardwalk Journal
By Tina Leonard
For far too long, I was always running from one point to the next until I came home, collapsed, and the only thing that I put on the table were take-out menus. Working with one client changed all that. Every time I was in her home, she was preparing the most wonderful dinners for her husband. The aromas said “You’re home!” I decided then that no matter how busy the day, I would try to get back to cooking. I’ve come to love the ritual of lighting a candle and sitting down with my husband for a meal on actual dishes - not foam cartons. Meal planning and shopping for food don’t seem to be the chore they once were. I still enjoy an evening out to dinner, but even that has become more special since we don’t do it as often. I even dusted off the crock pot, and I’m continually amazed by what can be accomplished in one large, ceramic container!
sources of comfort and joy. There’s something to be said for a warm bath and a hot cup of tea. As I write this article, I have a pumpkin candle burning, and on this crisp fall day, the smell is delicious! Playing music has also become a relaxing distraction from the television humming in the background of my life. While I do want to do my ‘shopping duty’ to help the economy (much to my husband’s dismay), I’m also trying to find a new appreciation for the things that I have, and for things that I haven’t previously or routinely done.
Those memories usually come in the simplest of packages. They bring joy and pain and growth. How wonderful to end each day by losing myself in the pages of a book, and gaining thoughtful insights as I read
By Tina Leonard
fire, sitting down with a good book, having friends over for a home-cooked meal – is not so bad after all. Just make sure you’re wearing red!
I guess the bottom line is that while we’re all trying to curb our spending, we may have found rewarding outlets that we were too busy to enjoy before. The simple life - lighting a Tina Leonard is a decorator and the proprietor of Dee Decor and Design. She resides with her family in Linwood.
One of my newfound pleasures is reading. I particularly love anything factual or home-related. I found a book with both – Building A Home With My Husband by Rachel Simon – and I opened it with great anticipation. Reading has never been the biggest item on my list, even with a mother and a sister who are librarians. But it’s something I’ve come to love. Rachel’s story touched me on many different levels, both personally and professionally. While the renovation of Rachel’s home is the focus, there are many life journeys traveled through the process. Rachel paints visual pictures of the rooms within her home, but I’m most impacted by the power and value of the awakened memories she shares with her readers.
Home!
All photos for this story taken by Tina Leonard.
Dee Decor Design each chapter. I found myself learning through Rachel’s experiences. I also gained something else – a friend. I reached out to Rachel to let her know how much I enjoyed her story and I was delighted when she in return reached out to me. I realized Rachel was just as sincere as the words in her book. Along with reading, I’ve also come to appreciate a home-cooked meal.
&
a personalized decorating service
tina leonard phone 609.601.0553 deedecor@aol.com
October 2009
Rachel Simon on Hearts and Homes By Beverly Bird If you and your significant other have managed to weather storms together over the years that could sink the average armada, you might not think that the next logical step is to remodel your home together - unless you’re Rachel Simon. When Simon and her husband decided to tear out the walls of their home and rebuild it from the ground up, she chronicled the experience in her recently published Building A Home With My Husband: A Journey Through The Renovation of Love. The book is savvy and insightful and smart, a real delight. Kirkus Reviews called it “an unsentimental, poetic appraisal of life’s big questions”. The lead-up to the first wall coming down was a nineteen-year courtship between Simon and husband Hal Dean. The pair finally married after nearly two decades of a live-in relationship, followed by a separation, followed by a reunion, all of which culminated in the wedding and Simon moving into Dean’s row house in Wilmington. The home was less than welcoming. It needed work - a lot of it. But Hal Dean is an architect and Rachel Simon is … well, brave. Together, they began tearing out and rebuilding, and Simon shares the extraordinarily emotional process with us in her new book without batting an eye or concealing any warts - the angst, the inevitable soul-searching that comes with throwing out the old to make room for the new, and, of course, the impact of all this on her new marriage. Simon talks of the process of packing up to temporarily move out of the row house while it was under construction, of picking and sorting through old possessions - what to throw out and what to keep? - and coming to the understanding that throwing out some of these things meant parting with still unresolved pieces of her past. In this respect, Building A Home is something of a continuation to her first memoir, Riding The Bus With My Sister, published in 2002 and adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Then there were the nuts and bolts of the remodeling process itself. As Simon writes in Building A Home, at one point a gas explosion blew out the walls and windows of the kitchen just as that room was nearing completion. I was recently able to speak with Rac hel Simon and I asked her if she was tempted to throw up her hands and walk away from the project at that point, or (gulp!) even walk away from the marriage. “It truly was the low point of the renovation process,” she said. “But by the time it happened, there was so much destruction that the house wasn’t habitable. There was no choice except to repair the damage and continue. Fortunately,
my husband was the architect on the project so he was able to stay relatively calm through the disaster. This isn’t to say that he didn’t have his own emotional moments, nor is it to say that we didn’t go at each other in the final weeks of what became an immensely stressful situation. But neither the renovation nor the marriage was jeopardized, the former because of my husband’s expertise, and the latter because we’d already broken up before we got married so we were determined to stay bonded this time, come hell or high water or gas explosions.” That made me wonder if she felt there was any correlation between the longevity of a relationship and the success of a resulting marriage - especially through such extraordinary circumstances as a home renovation. “I know people who’ve had successful marriages after brief courtships,” she said, “but I know many more where very brief courtships have led to the emotional equivalent of gas explosions. I would hardly say that nineteen years is necessary for a good pairing. It just happened that for us, nineteen years was necessary. When we were young, we lived together for thirteen years. We were very compatible and we loved each other, but we weren’t mature enough to understand what love and commitment really were. Then we broke up and we were apart for six years. During that time, we went on separate journeys and accomplished a lot of inner growth. So when we met up again, we were truly ready to be in a lifelong partnership.” In Building A Home, Simon shares this concept with her inimitable gift for prose and insight: “This is commitment: valuing our unity over my pride, the whole of us rather than the sum of my righteousness,” she writes. “Love is not just a feeling and commitment is not just a decision. They, when intertwined, are action. Love and commitment move, and touch, and listen, and speak. They are deeds that sacrifice individual pride. Their goal is not just happiness, but mutual vulnerability.”That being said (and said well), it remains that Simon and Dean embarked on the destruction/reconstruction of their home shortly after reuniting and marrying, which struck me as both risky and really ambitious. Marriage is a big change. Why force the psyche to cope with another right on top of the first one? It turns out that Simon consulted with a therapist about the emotional impact of undergoing major home improvements, and she discovered that what she and Dean did was not exactly unusual. Many people are already in the midst of one major transition in their lives when they decide to tackle another one by radically altering their home.
“I think this happens for two reasons,” Simon said. “One is that the major life transitions often lead naturally into the need to alter one’s space. For instance, a child is born, or a marriage has occurred, and therefore the house needs to expand. The other reason I think these emotionally-fraught situations often get coupled with home renovation is that few people realize how emotional the renovation process can be. So their lack of awareness of what they’re truly getting into combines with a new need, and boom - you get a rather intense mix.” Building A Home is Simon’s fifth book. I first became aware of her work years ago when I tuned in to the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie, Riding The Bus With My Sister. I could say that the movie and Simon’s corresponding book were a provocative recounting of one year in the life of the author, a year she spent riding public buses with her mentally disabled younger sister, Beth, but that would be over-simplifying. Beth had dedicated herself to spending her days on public buses with the drivers who became her friends, and she invited Simon to join her for one year. Simon did ride the bus with her sister, and she did write about it prior to the book being made into a television movie. And in the process, and in the writing of it, Simon grappled with details of her troubled childhood and, in essence, learned how to love unconditionally. The book moves seamlessly back and forth between the events of that year and what she learned from Beth about understanding the differences between people, to Simon’s family past. Publisher’s Weekly hailed Riding The Bus as a “perceptive, uplifting chronicle”. And for once, they got it right. Intrigued by this book, I backtracked to see what else the author had written. I found a delightful cross-mix of short stories, a novel, a non-fiction work, and the memoir. This writer cannot be pigeon-holed. She’s tackled efforts across the board of publishing, and in each genre she has done it astoundingly well - no small feat. Backtracking through her works first took me to The Magic Touch, a novel published by Viking in 1994, some eight years before Simon penned Riding The Bus With My Sister. Publisher’s Weekly called this one “unpredictable and inventive”. I’d call it quirky, with a strong touch of satire. Somewhere in between The Magic Touch and Riding The Bus With My Sister, Simon produced a non-fiction effort, The Writer’s Survival Guide. Interestingly enough, after finishing The Writer’s Survival Guide, rumor has it that Simon hit a
Rachel Simon with her husband, Hal Dean wall of writer’s block that kept her inactive for years. She set the record straight for The Boardwalk Journal. “Actually, I was writing intensely during that time,” she said. “But the books I was producing weren’t selling. One was a memoir that my agent wasn’t able to place. The other was a novel that my agent just didn’t like. Finally I moved to Riding The Bus, and all the work that I’d put into those unpublished books paid off. My work on the memoir helped me rid myself of a lot of pitfalls that many first memoirs fall into, such as characterization that smacks of the author’s agenda. The work on the novel mostly kept me from getting rusty. So I didn’t really take any time off. I just needed to have patience with the writing process, which also meant being willing to ditch several unworkable projects.” The result was Riding The Bus With My Sister. And those intervening books were indeed worthwhile, because Riding The Bus was over the top, winning the School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Award and the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, before being adapted into the Hallmark movie storing Rosie O’Donnell and Andie MacDowell. In addition to Publisher’s Weekly’s praise, the Boston Herald proclaimed it to be “a heartwarming, lifeaffirming journey through both the present and the past [that] might just change your life.”
October 2009
Rachel Simon is at the top of her game these days, but it’s been a process. The second child of four, her father left her mother when Simon was eight. Her mother remarried a man who was, to put it kindly, abusive. Simon and two of her siblings left the home to live with their father, leading to an estrangement between mother and daughter that lasted for years. They left younger sister Beth behind, although Beth did eventually join them. Simon later attended Solebury School, a boarding school in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and from there went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. She ultimately enrolled in a graduate program for creative writing. Between the time of graduation and the publication of her first book, Simon worked as a paralegal, an administrative assistant, and a research supervisor for a television study. Then there was that brief period of belly dancing. Simon was unaware that someone had posted this little tidbit on Wikipedia. “It was something I did for fun in my twenties,” she said. “I included it on a book jacket for my second book and my first novel, mostly because I thought it would make me seem a little more interesting than someone who wrote full-time and lived very frugally on grants and fellowships. I guess someone just took that old biographical information and put it on Wikipedia. I suppose the moral of the story is, when you’re young and joking around with your bio, be prepared to have certain things follow you.”
Simon told The Boardwalk Journal that she’s just finished a draft of another novel and she enjoyed revisiting the experience of fiction so much that she’ll probably stick with it for a little while. If that turns out to be true, then readers will have to go cold turkey for a bit without the insight and thought-provoking prose of her memoir projects. So I asked Simon to give us something to hold us over until her next memoir. I asked her what she believes is the secret to a healthy marriage or relationship, something that can withstand home renovations and gas explosions. “In Building A Home With My Husband, I go into many specifics, but I can try to boil them down to three major things,” Simon said. “First, you have to have respect for each other’s differences rather than withholding respect until the other person becomes more like you. Second, you have to accept the other person on his/her own terms, rather than trying to control who the person is. And finally, you need to be able to forgive the other person for any errors or personal flaws.” That, in a nutshell, sums up the many lessons Simon discovered and shared with us in both Riding The Bus With My Sister and Building A Home With My Husband. Both books were so much more than rolling wheels and explosions. For more on Rachel and her diverse works, you can visit www.rachelsimon.com.
The Boardwalk Journal | 29
The Hartman Home Team
Sells It All!
PREA 100 REAltoR EvERy yEAR SincE 2002
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South-side luxury, practically new construction, custom beauty home that has everything you could possibly desire...Quality. Location. 3 fireplaces, including one in the guest suite on the first floor, 4-car parking, immaculate kitchen with Viking range, Sub-Zero freezer, tumbled marble baths, high valued ceilings, limestone and hardwood floors throughout. Step inside and see a decadent masterpiece that is PRICED TO SELL!!! Driveway on Atlantic Ave (9400). CALLTODAY! $1,400,000. For more photos & information visit: www.9408Atlantic.net
BRING ALL OFFERS!! THE DECORATOR JUST LEFT! This property has been completely redone & you must give it a look! Immaculate 6800 sq ft luxury home on the best block of the most sought after street in Margate. Features 5BD/4.5BA, private balcony in each room, guest master suite, gorgeous custom kitchen w/granite countertops & stainless steel appliances, 2-car garage, elevator, gas fireplace, wonderful fiberglass decks, pool, spa, boat slips & more. The ultimate in quality of life! $3,700,000. For more photos & information visit: www.7609Bayshore.net
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NEW BULKHEAD & DECKING!! For those who appreciate the beauty & serenity of Bayfront living, welcome to boater’s paradise! BEST VIEWS AROUND. This first class 5 BR, 3.5 BA custom home encompasses a world of quiet pleasures, glorious, world-class sunsets, gorgeous bay views, 4 boat slips, master suite w/Jacuzzi, secluded deck, Andersen windows, new kitchen, fireplace, wine cellar & much more. An ambiance of quiet contentment abounds in this home to cherish. Approx 70ft on bay. Call today! $2,399,000. For more photos & information visit: www.512NUnion.net
2 STUDIO UNITS AVAILABLE!! ***DISTRESSED SALE*** UNOBSTRUCTED OCEANVIEWS from your new unit! LOWEST PRICED in the building!! Also, DIRECT OCEANFRONT w/ new Berber carpet, new sofa, very clean & wellmaintained! You will never believe the ocean views that go on forever!! Great building w/parking, pool, 24 hr security, management, rental program, gym & SUCH A LOCATION!! Walk to your favorite casinos, restaurants & shopping. This is a fabulous buy in an up & coming spot!! $119,000 & $162,000
2 Units Available!! UNOBSTRUCTED SOUTHERN VIEWS that go on & on from this beautiful 1 BR, 1.5 BA unit. Featuring Corian white countertops w/ample seating, new Jacuzzi bath & shower, & MORE!!! Also, luxury 2 BR w/spectacular skyline views, marble flrs, newer carpeting, & stainless steel appliances? FULL service bldg w/indoor & outdoor pools, gym, 24 HR security, garage, library & more. WALK TO EVERYTHING!! You will love it here! $325,000 & $429,000
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ONE-OF-A-KIND St. Leonard’s Tract masterpiece!! Breathtaking finishes throughout. This is a definite “MUST-SEE!” Featuring 4 flawless BR’s, 2.5 sumptuous BA’s, the best of construction (no skimping here), opulent mastersuite & bath w/Onyx marble, steam shower, 2 walk-in closets, custom lighting & moldings throughout, new 2-zone central, new oversized hot water heater, spectacular kitchen w/center island, top-of-the-line appliances, built-in wine cooler, chandeliers, BEST OF EVERYTHING HERE! A palace. $999,999. For more photos & information visit: www.2NOxford.net
SLOW DANCE in every room of this desirable front unit townhome everyone wants. GREAT LOCATION!! 3BR/2.5BA w/a large deck, garage, spectacular kitchen w/granite countertops, immaculate hrdwd and tile floors, custom lighting and more. Sit on the deck, walk to the beach or bay, enjoy a privileged lifestyle here. Don’t miss this South-side beauty!! JUST REDUCED & PRICED TO SELL!! This is a great buy so close to the beach in a highly desirable neighborhood. You will just love it! $789,000. For more photos & information visit www.20SJefferson.net
Live on one of the BEST BEACHBLOCKS in Margate. Fall in love with this lovely 5 or 6BR/3.5BA contemporary w/gorgeous ocean views. The deck off the 2nd level provides easy entertaining & views galore. And you’re sure to love the very private back yard. This home was designed for easy entertaining & fun! The hand-made custom kitchen is less than 5 yrs old. Granite based FP in living room-- c-o-z-y! All new windows. 3-zone heat & a/c. 5 car parking. Steam shower in master. This home has it all! Call now. $2,295,000. For photos & more information visit: www.108SOsborne.net
M A R G AT E O C E A N F R O N T
VENTNOR ST. LEONARD’S TRACT BEACHBLOCK
VENTNOR OCEANFRONT
Here’s a unique OCEANFRONT OPPORTUNITY with nothing between you and the beach. Awaken to the sights & sounds of the waves crashing right outside almost any room. This spectacular 5BR/4.5BA home features hardwood floors, a partially finished basement, storm shutters on every window, gorgeous custom tiled fireplace, parking for 6 cars, incredible wrap-around deck on two levels, accessible from several rooms. Located close to the playground, restaurants & shopping- -for the full SeaShore Experience. Must see! $3,500,000. For more photos & information visit: www.109SGranville.net
PREMIUM QUALITY 3-STORY NEW CONSTRUCTION BEACH BLOCK W/SPECTACULAR OCEAN VIEWS! 4600 SF home w/gourmet kitchen w/Viking professional series, lush granite counters, large island w/built-ins & storage. Gigantic master suite w/2 walk-in closets & an unbelievable master bath. 2 large decks, perfect for entertaining & a massive great room to accompany. 2 car garage, an elevator w/convenient multi-level access & just yards to the beach & bdwk! MUST SEE!! $2,000,000. For more photos & information visit: www.110SouthCambridge.net
BRAND NEW STUCCO EXTERIOR JUST COMPLETED!! This is a home most people only dream about. Warm, filled w/life & comfort, this 4BR/4.5BA sun-drenched OCEANFRONT ON A GORGEOUS, PRIVATE, OVERSIZED LOT, boasts new BR’s, large new modern kitchen, elevator, gleaming hw flrs, 2 cozy FP’s, slate roof, breathtaking DIRECT OCEAN VIEWS & an inspiring skyline. For those who enjoy the beauty & serenity of oceanfront living, it doesn’t get better than this! $2,790,000. For more photos & information visit: www.5110Boardwalk.net
BEAUTIFUL OCEAN VIEWS!! Luxury high-rise style living in the upand-coming area of Atlantic City! Minutes away from world class dining, entertainment & exciting nightlife. Only steps away from the bdwk & beach. 2BR, 2BA unit w/European-style kitchen, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances. Relax & entertain in the spacious living room w/ocean AND city views. This NYC style building features 24 HR security, gorgeous pool area w/private cabanas, fitness center & more. Bring your pet! $339,000
ATTENTION BOATERS! MAGNIFICENT, FULLY LOADED, OSPREY ESTATES BAYFRONT HOME!!! Do not miss this 4BR/3.5BA custom beauty featuring 2 bonus RM’s, 3rd flr game rm w/wet bar, 3400SF, 250FT ALUMINUM DOCK W/AUTO LIGHTING, 2 large decks, 2 45 FT boat lifts, cherry cabinets, GE Profile appli, FP, alarm system, 2 car garage, custom lighting, master Jacuzzi, large, spacious RM’s, home warranty, plently of storage & THE BEST SKYLINE VIEWS OF ATLANTIC CITY! This home is fit for a king & his large family!! Call today!!! $699,000
Live the life of a ROCK STAR! Come to the OCEAN CLUB--a full-service building: gym, sauna, indoor pool, 24-hour security, so much more... Here’s a great 2 BR, 2 BA with incredible Ocean, Bay, and City views. Coming for a tour? Bring tissues. Owner must relocate and is crying! You would too! New lighting, great balcony, HVAC, huge Jacuzzi, new washer/dryer and PETS ALLOWED! Pinch yourself! You’re not dreaming. Won’t last long. Least expensive 2BR in building! Call today, but don’t forget the tissues! $479,000
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YOU CANNOT BEAT THE AMAZING LOCATION OF THIS BEACHBLOCK NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME! Perfect corner home located by the library, park, restaurants, shopping, supermarket & SO MUCH MORE!! Fabulous interior featuring sparkling floors, marble, an elevator, gorgeous gourmet chef’s kitchen with granite, deck with oceanviews & all of the amenities of a drop-dead gorgeous home!! This home is priced to sell & will not last long. Live the lifestyle of the rich & famous in your new beachblock!! DONT WAIT! $1,849,000. For more photos & information visit: www.8010Atlantic.net
SERIOUS SELLER FOUND HERE! You won’t believe the gorgeous kitchen. Superior finishes, highly sought-after location, lots of spaceits perfect. This home features 3/4 large BR’S, 3 full gorgeous BA’s, den w/built-in fireplace, new roof, new cedar impressions, stainless steel appliances, magnificent granite, slate flooring, master-suite w/ Jacuzzi & shower, double pane windows & quality throughout. You will love your mornings on the front porch! Call to see it today!! $684,900. For more photos & information visit: www.8601Winchester.net
BRIGANTINE SHORT SALE! BRING ALL OFFERS!! Wait until you see this jaw-dropping Contemporary! You could film a modern day Brigantine version of “Gone With the Wind” here! Spectacular everything!An absolute “must see.” The roof top deck with 360 degree views of the Island are breathless, and you’re just steps to the gorgeous beach. 4 beautiful bedrooms, 3.5 baths with room for entertaining. Flawless hardwood, tile and marble flooring throughout. Top of line appliances! Fenced-in yard for privacy. An estate to be proud of! $1,650,000.
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME 7BR/10BA new construction featuring the best of everything! 4 fireplaces. 9’ & 10’ cathedral ceilings. 5 bars. Gourmet kitchen; wine cellar; rich tile & carpeting throughout. 2 whirlpools; 2 car garage w/magnificent 4 car driveway; private, roof-top, gazebo w/bar; large, private landscaped backyard; trash enclosure; 1500 sq ft exterior decks. The ULTIMATE in prestigious living! For those accustomed to the very best, this truly unparalled A-ZONE beauty is a home that echoes achievement! $3,500,000. For more photos & information visit: www.2701Ocean.net
MUST SEE THE INSIDE OF THESE ALMOST NEW, RENOVATED TO THE STUDS TOWNHOMES!!! Beautiful & spacious w/ private one car garages, real hardwood floors, custom kitchen w/granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, back deck, lovely private garden area and SO MUCH MORE!! All this one block to the beach and boardwalk!! Close to restaurants, transportation and Atlantic City! HURRY, THESE WILL GO QUICKLY!! Southside and under $400k! You will not believe the quality here...this is unlike anything else!!! $399,000. For more photos & information visit: www.17SLittleRock.net
LONGPORT/EHT BAYFRONT Entertainer’s Paradise in Seaview Harbor! Spectacular views, 3 boat slips, located on the bay, this party home is “shore” to please your friends and family. With 60’ of frontage on a quiet lagoon, you are only 5 short minutes to the Ocean! This home boasts a great 2nd floor deck with incredible views. 3-season room brings the outdoors in. Loads of amenites. A spacious 2-story with killer views and an open floor plan in a private setting...what more could you want? $885,000. For more photos & information visit: www.47Sunset.net
Best of the Beach
A profile of our area’s most luxurious homes
The aluminum stair railing in the foyer is an eye-catcher – as is the magnificent limestone flooring with in-lay black granite. All the hardware, including hinges and handles was restored to their 1938 state. The rounded moldings throughout the entire home were painstakingly brought back to their original luster. The front door is original with gorgeous glass block, and be sure to see the first floor fireplace – it’s a head-turner, too -- art deco glass, and all in For more photos, video, & information visit: www.8906Ventnor.net its original operating condition. The hardwood If you have looked at re-done floors were also restored to their houses on the Parkway in original rich Walnut finish – and Margate before you have likely they are a “Wow” to behold. seen some quickly-done “fixerThe kitchen was designed with uppers” that are little more than the chef of the house in mind. cosmetic makeovers… The thick granite is perfect for This one was overseen by a Glenn chopping, dicing, and mixing and Daryl Segal -- seasoned while entertaining guests. home restorers -- and it now Stainless appliances include the was installed in the home, also has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths on a oven, dishwasher, microwave and a commercial-grade hot water massive 80 x 120 corner lot. All refrigerator. There’s a handsome work was permitted and approved heater as well as a high pressure tile backsplash, double sink along pump – capable of servicing 5 by the city. It included, and all with those spectacular walnut showers at-a-time – there’s also of the behind-the-walls-work hardwood floors that make this a brand new 3-zone heat and air was updated. For example, a kitchen the hub of activity for the system in place. Tour this home hefty 300 amp electrical system family get-together. and you will fall in love with the
8906 Ventnor Avenue
exquisite lighting fixtures throughout the home, too. And the owners were sensitive to restoring the home to its original charm. The outdoor fountain and tiling are all original.
32 | The Boardwalk Journal
Through the years many have dreamed of living in this part of town only to be frustrated with the older designs. Here, the three key rooms have been totally reworked--the kitchen, the main living room, and the second floor master. It is worth the trip just to see this master suite. Finally, here is a cleverly designed master
October 2009
that earns high marks. The main sleeping area is large and includes an intimate deck – a necessity for seashore living. This deck has a picturesque view of the Parkway fountains. The shower area is open, bright and flowing, and made of expensive Jerusalem stone and has 3 shower heads. There is also an office area in the master as well. The home has great division of space for a growing family. Two additional bedrooms and adjoining honey onyx bath are on the second level, and there is a fourth bedroom, and bath on the third floor. If you have really young children, they may be angelic now, but beware: preteens
and teenagers can become so cantankerous a modern-day Buddha would resort to downing Prozac by the handful so; the separation here might qualify these restorers for a future Nobel Peace Prize. When you tour this home you will notice there are no c-r-e-a-k-s -indigenous to older homes. That’s because the construction is betterthan-new here. Everything has
October 2009
been restored to its better-thannew condition. Which brings us to the copper roof… yes dear reader, this, too, has been restored. ($$$!!!) There is also an additional bedroom and bath, with its own private entrance off of the garage – It’s extremely private, and is a great place for elderly parents to stay who don’t want to contend with stairs. If the house holds your interest, stop for a moment and consider how close to all the “fun” places you’d be if you lived here. If you are the slightest bit familiar with favorite Margate events then you know how hard it is to get to both sides of Margate on a crowded summer afternoon. No problem here! Live here, and enjoy a stroll with Fido along the ever-popular Parkway fountains. The beautiful Margate beaches are only 2 short blocks away should you want to work on your tan or admire the sights and sounds of Washington Avenue Beach venues with Lucy the Elephant and Cafe, Ventura’s Greenhouse, and fun, fun, fun! Or hop on a bike and take to the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, which starts in neighboring Ventnor and is a lovely ride along the beach. You are just minutes away from world-class dining, music and entertainment in “Always Turned On” Atlantic City. And if you have friends or family that comes to visit, you can cruise around the corner to dinner in the “Marina District” at Tomatoes or Steve and Cookie’s and enjoys the beautiful bayfront atmosphere. You can also stop by Steve and Cookie’s parking
lot on Thursday mornings throughout the summer to shop in the Margate Community Farmers Market, where you can
find everything from seafood to flowers to fresh fruits and vegetables, to baked goods, soaps, jams and jellies, breads, pastries, coffees, and so much more! Here is your chance to live in Margate’s “sweet spot.” The home fits in with the neighborhood, but it has been thoroughly renovated. Interest rates are hovering at near record lows, and these are sellers who are serious about selling offered at $2,500,000.
To see, call Paula Hartman and the Hartman Home Team of Pruential Fox & Roach today. |The seller is represented by Paula Hartman at 609. 271.7337.
The Boardwalk Journal | 33
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It was also at this time, in 1977, that an up and coming Republican legislator named William L. Gormley was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly. Gormley arrived in the legislature at the same time voters in New Jersey approved a referendum to permit casino gaming in Atlantic City only. In 1985, Gormley was elected to the New Jersey State Senate to succeed Steven Perskie. Following a stint as Aide to Governor Jim Florio’s administration, Perskie moved on to the judiciary where he continues to serve today.
Chris Christie on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City flanked by Vince Polistina and John Amodeo
Republican’s Regain Strength in Atlantic County: A Look Back at the History of the GOP from Farley to Gormley
A Look Ahead with Christie, Amodeo and Polistina
The Republican Party in Atlantic County has a long and rich history of strength, success, and a record of accomplishment in government. You can look all the way back to Senator Frank S. (Hap) Farley, who served in the New Jersey State Legislature for nearly thirty-five years. Farley began his political career as an Assemblyman from District Two, and four years later, in 1940, he was elected the State Senator. In just four more years, Senator Farley was elected asMajorityLeader of the Senate, and only one year later, in 1945, he became Former Republican the President of the boss Frank “Hap” Farley New Jersey Senate. Can anyone image this happening today - a Senator from Atlantic County being elected as the President of the Senate with a legislature that has become increasingly more dominated by North Jersey politics and influence?
36 | The Boardwalk Journal
This was all happening at a time when political bosses ruled the roost and were finally being prosecuted and going to prison for unrelated crimes. People such as Enoch “Nucky” Johnson - who during that era was the undisputed boss of the Atlantic City and Atlantic County governments - were spinning influence and power from the Boardwalk in Atlantic City all the way to the statehouse in Trenton. In the early 1940’s, Nucky Johnson was prosecuted and subsequently convicted for tax evasion and sent to prison, leaving the leadership of the Republican Party at the feet of then Senator Hap Farley. Since the focus of this story is the strength of a party, it can only be measured by the ability to get things done for a district - and for oneself, as well. Farley immediately went to work on special projects for his district, such as The Garden State Parkway - called “Farley’s Folly” by his friends in the north - and the Atlantic City Expressway that most said would never happen, and then did. There was also an ambitious project in 1947 in the form of The Atlantic City Race Course. The Race Course was also driven by James “Sonny” Fraser, as well as others who attracted some very well known investors to
By Don P. Hurley
bring it to fruition, including Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. By this measure, it can be said that Hap Farley and the Republican Party of the 1940’s through the early 1970’s were strong. In the early 1970’s, the Atlantic County Republican Party felt its first sting in many decades. The Democratic Party created a tidal wave culminating in 1971 with the election of Dr. Joseph McGahn, a Democratic challenger, who defeated Hap Farley for State Senator. McGahn ran on a platform of fighting corruption in government in the wake of an ongoing Federal investigation into certain activities within the Republican Party. It’s interesting to note that McGahn won his election in 1971 - then reelection in 1973 - without the support of the institutional Democratic Party. In 1977 McGahn was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Steven Perskie, who went on to be elected State Senator. McGahn would go on to challenge Perskie two more times and lose very narrow elections on each occasion with the help of third party candidates.
October 2009
After entering the New Jersey Senate, Gormley quickly moved up through the Republican Party’s hierarchy and into positions of leadership as a whip and then chairman of several committees, finally settling in as the longtime chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee. Gormley was well known for working with both parties, and he enjoyed perhaps his most success as a legislator when his party was in the minority. He became a crucially dependable vote for the Democrat administrations. Senator Gormley is largely credited with the Casino Reinvestment Development Act that placed large pools of money into development projects in and around Atlantic City, as well as the rest of the state. This placed Gormley in a very influential position to push forward pet projects of his own, including the new Convention Center, which has begun to link the north side of Atlantic City to a train system, a large hotel and major walking shop and restaurant district. Once again, the people of Atlantic County and District Two had an influential and effective legislator from the Republican Party who even received praise of the highest form from the leader of the other side. Senate President Dick Codey, a Democrat from North Jersey who went on to become governor when Jim McGreevey was forced to resign from office to avoid a Special Election to fill his vacancy, although he waited until November of 2004, said, “I don’t think anyone has fought harder for the people of their district than Bill Retired State Senator Bill Gormley
October 2009
Gormley. That’s the way he was. He wouldn’t back down. Even if we locked the door, he tried to get in.” Bill Gormley served in the New Jersey Senate until February 15, 2007, when he indicated that he would not be seeking reelection and he stepped down. The vacancy in District Two’s Senate Seat was eventually filled in 2008 by James Whelan, the former Mayor of Atlantic City, following a very heavily financed campaign from Camden County in support of Whelan’s candidacy. In this same campaign, two Republicans, John Amodeo and Vince Polistina, were elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, thus perhaps signaling the return of a unified Republican Party in key positions in the legislature. Assemblyman John Amodeo, a union laborer by trade, brings with him a grass roots level of support of union and blue collar constituency. His legislative partner, Vince Polistina, is a selfmade engineer with strong government and public sector experience both in engineering and in other public and private projects. This combination of blue and white collar experience may bring District Two their most effective representation to date in the General Assembly. Amodeo and Polistina have quickly established themselves in their first terms as leaders within their party, and in the state, as informed and active representatives. Their agenda has been a clear initiative to control borrowing and spending measures. Amodeo and Polistina have been attempting to create legislation to designate certain key employees as ‘essential personnel’, and to prohibit the State of New Jersey from ever shutting down the casinos in Atlantic City - as their friend on the other side, James Whelan, voted to do on the 4th of July weekend of 2006. If past events are any indication, Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina and their fellow Republican colleagues have a blueprint from history to follow in order to bring a return of the strength and glory of the Republican Party from a generation ago.
Running for Governor this year for the GOP is Christopher Christie, the former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Christie served in the position from 2002, when he was nominated by President George W. Bush, through 2008. In January of 2009, Christie announced that he would be a candidate for Governor in the State of New Jersey and he filed papers for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Christie has run a campaign that emphasizes his record as a corruption buster. To bolster this law-and-order record, he added Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as his Lieutenant Governor, a newly enacted position within the state. Christie’s record of successfully prosecuting 130 public figures of all parties from within state, county and local levels of government without ever losing a single case - has figured prominently in his campaign against his challenger, incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. Corzine is running for re-election this November after serving a full term as Governor, a real feat considering the recent revolving door of New Jersey governors, beginning with Christie Whitman and ending with Jim McGreevey. He left the United States Senate after serving five years of a six year term and beating back a challenge from Senate President Richard Cody. Cody acted as Governor after Whitman left office to serve briefly in the President George W. Bush administration. Corzine has been victim to falling polls since 2006 when he, along with fellow Democrats, were held largely responsible for shutting down state government and the casinos in Atlantic City following a budget battle during
Amodeo and Polistina are being challenged in their re-election bid by Democratic hopefuls Reverend Reginald Floyd and Northfield City Councilman Jimmy Martinez in a campaign that has been very quiet with six weeks to go, leading to speculation that the Democratic Party intends to utilize their resources in more competitive races.
The Boardwalk Journal | 37
Gourmet Cuisine at a Value: will be quite pleased with the results,” said Kathleen McSweeney, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Resorts.
Resorts Casino Hotel announced that its chefs have created a multi-course prix fixe menu for the celebrated Italian restaurant, Capriccio and its popular Asian cuisine establishment, Asian Spice. Capriccio’s three-course prix fixe menu is priced at $34.99. Asian Spice’s four-course prix fixe menu is priced at $29.99. Both restaurants are located on the Dining Level. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling 1.800.336.6378.
Christie, Polistina and Amodeo discuss strategy before Atlantic City press conference. the heart of the July 4th weekend holiday. In 2007, Corzine spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars to advance his proposal for stem cell research projects in New Jersey. The effort was defeated by intense opposition from pro-life concerns. Governor Corzine succeeded, however, in leading efforts to provide health insurance for every child within the state with the passage of the New Jersey Family Care legislation in 2007. The most recent public sampling of the race for Governor has Chris Christie leading Jon
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Corzine in a Rasmussen poll by a margin of 48 percent to 41 percent. It marks the first time that a Republican gubernatorial candidate has led a Democrat candidate at this point since Tom Kean was elected in 1981 when he defeated incumbent Governor Jim Florio.
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In these very strange times we live in today, do you think any of the members of the Grand Old Party ever find themselves thinking, “What Would Hap Do?”
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October 2009
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Resorts Announces Prix Fixe Menus at Capriccio and Asian Spice can choose from a wide array of Capriccio’s celebrated desserts. At Asian Spice, a four-course menu awaits, starting with a crispy spring roll chock full of shrimp, chicken and vegetables. A soup course follows, and diners can choose between Wonton and Hot and Sour. Then for the entrée, guests can decide among the following: crab-fried rice, studded with oversized nuggets of the freshest jumbo lump crabmeat; General Tso’s chicken, featuring tender chunks of chicken breast, deliciously deep-fried and coated in a spicy red sauce; the chicken and eggplant hot pot, for those who like a walk on the spicy side; slices of beef, fried until crisp and tossed in our signature orange sauce; or the boneless pork chops, sautéed to crisp perfection and served in a spicy sauce. Guests can choose from a range of decadent desserts to cap off the memorable meal.
Atlantic City Remembers Boxing Champion By Don P. Hurley
Arturo Gatti - known by many as ‘The Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior’ - was the most frequent fighter in the history of Atlantic City, having held fifteen matches at our historic Boardwalk Hall. Gatti was found dead on July 11, 2009 in his hotel room in Pernambuco, Brazil where he was vacationing at a resort. His sudden and mysterious death has set off a firestorm of theories as people reach different conclusions as to the cause. But on Saturday, September 19, it was nothing but love and fond remembrances of the late, great champion on the Boardwalk at Georgia Avenue, where Gatti fought so many wars before sold-out crowds at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall that people have dubbed it ‘The House That Gatti Built’. Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt, along with his fellow members of City Council and Mayor Lorenzo Langford, were there to honor Gatti with an appropriate designation of the street by Boardwalk Hall as ‘Arturo Thunder Gatti Place’. The new street sign was unveiled by Gatti’s brother, Fabrizio Gatti, who traveled from Montreal to take part in the ceremony in memory of his deceased brother. Councilman Tibbitt also recognized Carrie Kauffman of 32 Degrees, an organizer of the event. 32 Degrees is a club Gatti mural created by A.C.’s own Norman Dee
and favorite hangout managed by Kauffman that her friend Gatti often frequented during his stays in Atlantic City. The ceremony was packed with friends and fans from all over the country and the world. Chuck Zito, an actor and official bodyguard to the stars, as well as a dear friend of Gatti’s, said, “It has the feeling of one of Arturo’s championship fights. All the same faces are here...the only thing missing is our great champion Arturo, who should be here today to cut this ribbon himself.” Zito told The Boardwalk Journal that he knew there was no way his dear friend would have ended his own life. While lifting the drape from the sign that will forever designate this portion of the Boardwalk as ‘Arturo Thunder Gatti Place’, Fabrizio Gatti said of his brother, “Arturo loved Atlantic City. He adopted it as a second home, just as the people of Atlantic City adopted him as a son. I’m so proud of my brother. He was a great champion and an even better person who utilized his celebrity to help others.” Gatti was known around the area as a benevolent soul who always gave back to charities and causes in the Atlantic City area, such as The Run To Fight Cancer each year. Arturo Gatti held seven massive title prize fights among his fifteen matches at Boardwalk Hall. He is one of the most significant reasons that Boardwalk Hall has been named the largest selling venue for its size in the world. This is the kind of impact that Gatti had on our area. If you speak with any worker at a hotel, casino, or business, they will tell you that when Arturo Gatti appeared in Atlantic City, the town was hopping and everyone did well. “Arturo was a blue collar guy in a blue collar town who loved and gave back to Atlantic City. When so many others would just take from our city, Arturo was always contributing,” said Councilman George Tibbitt. Many have said of Gatti that he was a loyal guy. Gatti remained true to Atlantic City when so many other states and venues were trying to lure him away, staging his fights only here. As the events on the Boardwalk ended and the pristine sign at
40 | The Boardwalk Journal
Gatti Place was visible for all to see, the day turned to an event taking place at Bally’s Park Place: A Night of Thunder where live boxing matches and video and other tributes to Gatti continued a day of remembrance for the late fighter. Kathy Duva of Main Events, the promoter who showcased Gatti’s fights in Atlantic City, said, “Being lucky enough to witness this magnificent fighter display his skills and heart was an honor, and we thought we would come together to remember the great times and to offer comfort to Arturo’s family, his fans, the boxing community, and ourselves.” Pat Lynch, Gatti’s manager, told The Boardwalk Journal, “There’s no way in a million years that Arturo Gatti committed suicide. It would never happen. He was murdered, and there’s no doubt about it. You have not heard the last of this case. We have our own investigation going, and each day we’re getting more and more information. The truth will come out. You’ll see that when this case is fully investigated, it will turn out to be murder.” Unlike some sports, in boxing you don’t have a number that can be retired. So the management of Boardwalk Hall decided to do the next best thing: they placed a fullsized banner in the rafters memorializing Arturo Gatti’s fifteen fights held here. The banner with Gatti’s name and a giant number 15 will fly forever in the Hall to pay tribute to a great champion, and also to recall some of the greatest boxing matches ever held at Boardwalk Hall. Kim Newman, the Controller for Main Events Boxing Promotions, said of Gatti, “Arturo was a great man and a great champion who is fully deserving of this day-long tribute in Atlantic City. Arturo will always be synonymous with Atlantic City and the excitement that he brought here.” As this story was going to press, another investigation - this time by the government of Montreal who commissioned a probe at the request of Gatti’s family - came to similar conclusions as those made by the Brazilian government in July of 2009, but with one big difference. A report dated September 22, 2009 from the Montreal LaPresse News revealed that a second autopsy had been performed
October 2009
and it concluded that Gatti was not strangled, but hanged. The toxicology tests also revealed that there was a drug in his system which is known to cause drowsiness. Interestingly, this drug is sold in Brazil - but not in Canada. Further tests will need to be done to determine whether or not this drug could actually have rendered Gatti unconscious, and how the drug was administered. Authorities have not ruled out a scenario where Gatti could have been drugged, then hanged without a struggle. Atlantic City councilman George Tibbitt and longtime Gatti manager Pat Lynch
Dr. Michael Baden, who is the former Chief Pathologist for the New York State Police and who now hosts the acclaimed HBO TV series show Autopsy, was a witness to the second autopsy performed by Quebec coroners. He said that this autopsy found that an investigation by Brazilian authorities was incomplete. The second autopsy performed on Gatti was conducted a few days after the Brazilian authorities had concluded that Gatti had committed suicide.
“There were definite injuries that hadn’t been seen by the Brazilian authorities,” said Baden, “but one needs a lot of additional information - including a toxicology which isn’t available yet - to come to a conclusion as to whether it was homicide or suicide.” After this followup forensic examination that lasted more than seven hours, Dr. Baden indicated that bruises on the body of the deceased boxing champion were completely overlooked by the Brazilian authorities. In an interview with the Canadian Press, Dr. Baden said, “There were some surprises.The first surprise was that the one done in Brazil was a partial autopsy and not a full autopsy. The second was that injuries had not been identified.” Baden
also said that it is very unusual for only a partial autopsy to be performed in a case where there is a suspected homicide. One man who will be forever linked to Arturo Gatti is ‘Irish’ Mickey Ward, who fought a trilogy of bouts with Gatti. Their fights will go down in history as one of the greatest rivalries ever. Mickey Ward told ESPN News recently, “I cannot believe that Arturo committed suicide and I will never believe that. He had too much life and too much to live for.” Ward also said that he will forever hold their friendship, born of blood and guts in the ring, near and dear to his heart. I’m sure the debate and investigations will rage on in this matter for some time to come. But you’ll find no debate in defining the real legacy of Arturo Gatti and his connection with Atlantic City. It’s a connection that will last for generations to come. Saturday’s day-long tribute to Gatti was more than a celebration of a great fighter’s career. It served as a tribute to a life well lived in service of others, as well. As long as there are fight fans and those who admire good men who do great things, Arturo ‘Thunder’ Gatti will never be forgotten in our area. Gatti’s friend, Chuck Zito, said that he hopes they will erect a statute to the late great fighting champion right at the foot of Boardwalk Hall, and he will be working toward that goal. “This is the house that Arturo Gatti built, the house that he sold out more than any other fighter in the history of the venue,” Zito said.
Fabrizio Gatti points at street sign honoring his late brother Arturo “Thunder Gatti
They’ve certainly erected statues for others who have far done less than our fallen champion, Arturo Gatti. I hope that it comes to be.
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Pat D’Arcy: Bringing a Team Philosophy to Law
By Beverly Bird
quite a bit of time together, take vacations together, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company.” So how does this benefit the law firm? “We’re always talking about what’s happening with our cases,” D’Arcy said. “If one of us is preparing for a trial, all of us are aware of it and are stepping in to offer suggestions on strategy.” Pat D’Arcy, Esq. Vince Lombardi once said that you have to be smart to be number one in any business. He also said that if you’re lucky enough find a guy with a lot of smarts and a lot of heart, he’s never going to come off the field second. I’m guessing that this is the secret to Patrick D’Arcy’s success. This is a man with his finger in a lot of pies. From the outside looking in, he’s tireless, and he rarely comes off the field second. Launching into the field of law after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Montclair State College, then going on to Loyola University School of Law for his Juris Doctorate, D’Arcy’s forward momentum has not stopped ever since. The law firm of Goldsmith and Weiss in Northfield was D’Arcy’s first stepping stone. He signed on there after law school and within three years he made partner. He stayed on with Goldsmith and Weiss for several more years, then he moved on to open his own firm in 1998. Two years later, his brother joined him, and in 2007, Steven Johnson jumped in with both feet. One year later, Christopher Day, who had a successful workers compensation and personal injury practice of his own, joined forces with D’Arcy and Johnson. The end result: D’Arcy Johnson Day, a law firm known as much for its compassion, commitment, and dedication to the community as its successes in the courtroom. “Our partners have different personalities and different areas of expertise,” D’Arcy told The Boardwalk Journal, “but one thing we all have in common is a desire to help people, especially those who’ve been wronged. Another interesting thing is that we’re not only business partners and associates, but we’re also friends. We spend
42 | The Boardwalk Journal
In that respect, D’Arcy Johnson Day would seem to be a Dream Team. D’Arcy also credited five other partners and associates - Rick Albuquerque, Bard Shober, Karin Hassel, Kevin Musiakiewicz, and Gregory Hock - as well as a staff of fifteen paralegals and assistants. “When a client hires one of our attorneys, he or she really has access to all of us,” D’Arcy said. Smarts...and heart. Their clients matter to D’Arcy and his partners, and that adds a pound of care. Any time heart is involved, stress is inherent. “People are depending on us to such a large extent,” D’Arcy said. “We represent people who’ve been wronged, whether by insurance companies, corporate behemoths, or someone else. They’re relying on us to make things right, and we never want to let them down.” That’s not always easy. “The law is extremely deadline-oriented,” D’Arcy explained, “from court dates which are non-negotiable, too due dates for pleadings which are mandated by statute. And there are always aspects of a case that we may not have complete control over, like an unforeseen reaction by a jury or a change in case law that affects one of our clients. But I’ve found over the years that you can use stress as a motivator. Deadlines can provide structure. And I know that the anxiety and pressure on our end is nothing compared to the problems our clients might be facing - struggling to pay bills because they were injured at work and the insurance company is denying their claim, or they may be worried about their mother who’s in a nursing home and has shown some signs of abuse.” “Pat’s my friend and my partner, so this may seem biased, but it’s sincere and true,” said Steve Johnson - the Johnson portion of D’Arcy Johnson Day and former Republican County Freeholder. “If my back was to the wall and I
needed something done, I’d want Pat in my corner leading the charge.” Heart may make the attorneys at D’Arcy Johnson Day care, but then the smarts come into play. Patrick D’Arcy is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial attorney, a distinction held by less than two percent of our state’s lawyers. In 2009, he was named a “Super Lawyer” by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. This month, in October 2009, D’Arcy will receive the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Professional of the Year Award. He’s a Past President of the Atlantic County Bar Association and a member of the American Association for Justice. D’Arcy personally concentrates his practice on serious claims of personal injury, nursing home abuse, and medical malpractice. He’s litigated over a thousand cases to completion. The firm has had some well-published successes, such as the Joan DuRoss victory handled by Christopher Day, and David Babych’s suit against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2002, handled by D’Arcy himself. Babych suffered a broken foot in 1998, but the team doctors told him that it was only a bone bruise. He continued to play, causing himself permanent damage which ultimately cut his career short. D’Arcy Johnson Day convinced a jury to award him a $1.37 million settlement. “That was a tremendous victory,” D’Arcy said. “It made headlines and raised the profile
Pat D’arcy and son Patrick
October 2009
of the firm. But it can be just as gratifying to help someone who’s been seriously injured in a car accident or had an adverse reaction to a prescription drug. At the end of the day, if we’ve done something to right a wrong, it was a good day. And if righting that wrong means that the same thing doesn’t continue to happen to other people, that’s even better.” This mindset also drives D’Arcy to do a significant amount of public speaking. “Many of the cases we handle involve issues that can affect virtually anyone,” he told The Boardwalk Journal. “I think it’s important to let other attorneys and members of the public about these cases. Maybe there’s an individual who’s had an adverse reaction to a defective drug, but doesn’t know where to turn for help. Or there might be an attorney with a complex case that’s definitely worth pursuing, but it requires a great deal of research - which we’ve already done. Public speaking gives me a chance to let people know that they aren’t powerless, and that they can count on D’Arcy Johnson Day to help them. And when you believe so strongly in what you’re doing, it’s easy to talk about.” Lest readers come away from this story believing that Patrick D’Arcy is only a lawyer, think again. I said earlier that he has a finger in many pies, and not all of them involve litigation. They also involve a certain giving-back to the place he calls home. Before opening a new office in Egg Harbor Township, D’Arcy Johnson Day was centered in Galloway. D’Arcy and his brother, Andrew, took notice of a restaurant site in an outdoor shopping area just a few doors away from their office. “It kept changing hands,” D’Arcy said. “No one, from the New York-themed deli to the 50’s diner, seemed to be able to make it work. Andrew and I took a look at the number of businesses that were located close to the site, and the number of residences that were just a quick drive away. We were convinced that the right restaurant, managed properly, could be a real success here.” So they opened an Irish pub, the Dubliner Pub and Grill located at 325 East Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway. “The theme was a natural one for us because our parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Our goal was to establish a bar and restaurant that would not only appeal to families, but to businesspeople and to couples - anyone who was interested in good food in a comfortable setting. On any given day, you might walk in and find a group of guys who just finished work on a construction project, along with political figures talking about the latest election issue, to families celebrating a special occasion or a group of women getting together for girls’ night out.”
October 2009
You’d think Pat D’Arcy might have enough on his hands, practicing law, running one of our area’s premier law firms, juggling speaking engagements for the greater good of others, and overseeing the operation of a successful Irish pub. After all that, this guy might just want to knock back a pint or two of his own and put his feet up with a well-earned sigh. Patrick D’Arcy coaches Little League baseball instead. “It may seem hard to believe,” D’Arcy said, “but I use a lot of the same skills that I rely on as a business owner and a lawyer. I think the kids pick up on my passion and intensity, just as a jury does in the courtroom. I try to instill the same sense of team spirit in the kids that I feel when I walk through our law office. I try to teach them how to be confident when they walk out onto the field, and how to take the anxiety they may be feeling about their next at-bat and turn it into a positive, just like I do when I’m approaching a trial. And I also do whatever I can to make the experience fun for them, to show them that you can play hard and do your best, and have a great time doing it.” His assistant coaches seem to agree that his approach is gold. One of them, Tom Ganard, is also a D’Arcy Johnson Day client. “In the five years that I’ve coached with Pat, I’ve been consistently impressed with the rapport he has with the kids. Not only does he do a great job communicating with them, but he’s also able to install a level of confidence in them as individuals and as a team. Whether they have the ability to do something or not, Pat makes them believe that they can.” So now, after lawyering and speaking, overseeing a pub and coaching kids, D’Arcy finally puts his feet up and relaxes, right? Nope. He’s also our Atlantic County Democratic Committee chairman. “Pat has been a great leader for the Democratic Party,” State Senator Jim Whelan told The Boardwalk Journal. “He’s both energetic and sincere in his passion for helping others. There’s a natural draw to him because of his ability to inspire people to work very hard, while making it fun and worthwhile.” Why, on top of everything else, would D’Arcy want to wade hip-deep into politics, something so divisive and controversial and consuming? We had to ask. “I’ve always believed in what John Kennedy said,” D’Arcy told The Boardwalk Journal. “We all owe a debt of public service to our community.” Still, there is a lot good and a lot bad about politics these days. On the up side, D’Arcy said, “I was excited when Barack Obama was elected because we saw young people who were
Coach D’Arcy prepares his team for victory energized by his message of hope, and they were working side-by-side with older people who’ve been working on campaigns for years. People of all ages and backgrounds were working together for this cause that meant something to them, and it gave the local Democratic organizations a tremendous boost. Actually, I was excited by the entire election process. We saw so many new people from both parties getting out and getting involved. I’m a lifelong Democrat and I come from a family of Democrats, but I was happy to see people jumping into the fray on both sides.” And what about the downside? “One thing that I think isn’t healthy about politics, both on a national and local level, is people ignoring what’s right, what’s fair, or what makes sense, if it doesn’t serve their own personal needs and agendas. Sometimes it’s necessary to remind people that we’re involved in politics to serve the public, and to make decisions that work toward the common good. I think that members of the County Democratic Party know that they can count on me to offer those reminders to people who have temporarily lost sight of our common goals.” “Pat leads by example,” said Angelo DiMaio, union leader, fireman, and County Freeholder candidate. “His passion for working hard and fighting the good fight to help better our community is unmistakable. One of the reasons I entered this year’s race was because I want to be a part of the solution to the tough times we face. Pat inspires all of us to follow his lead.” And that’s one tough act to follow. D’Arcy has served on the Galloway Business Development Board, the Galloway Recreation Board, and he’s also served as Prosecutor for Galloway Township. He holds a third-degree black belt in the art of Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art. Then there’s D’Arcy Johnson Day and that Little League team. He’s husband to Pamela, one of our Assistant County Prosecutors, and dad to Nicolette, 15, and Patrick, age 13. Vince Lombardi called it. Smarts and heart. D’Arcy never comes off the field second best.
The Boardwalk Journal | 43
Tilton Fitness: Get Focused On YOU
Shore Memorial Hospital
By Anthony Russo
“I need to tone up!”; “I want to fit into a size (fill in the blank)!”; “I’m so weak!”; “I always feel tired!”; “I want to look and feel healthier!”; “I don’t want to lose muscle mass as I get older!”; “I’m so stressed!”; “My game isn’t what it should be!”.
Mays regardless of whether that person is new to Northfield, working out or an elite athlete looking to take Landing, Stafford Township and their fitness to the next level. Galloway Township. Superior Services: The old school idea of a gym as a stark room with simple racks of free weights The Northfield and Do any of those complaints sound familiar to is long gone. To help members achieve diverse Galloway clubs are you? At some point, we’re all forced to focus fitness goals, a club must offer a broad range open 24 hours a day. on our physical fitness. No matter what your of modernized services. Tilton Fitness has the Even the best gym motivation, the best way to ensure achievement most diverse and most comprehensive array of is only as good as of your personal fitness goals is by joining the programs and services of any club in southern the results it helps right health and fitness club. its members achieve. Suzanne Morrison joined New Jersey, including: So what makes a club the ‘right’ one for you? n Weight Loss Programs n Group Exercise Tilton Fitness eight months ago, hoping to lose twenty pounds. She worked with a personal n Racquetball The answer may lie in these three key areas: n Personal Training trainer, took Body Pump and Spinning group n n Boxing Skilled Staff: This takes a lot more than Aquatics n n Physical Therapy exercise classes, and began eating a healthier looking good in spandex. Staff members - Karate diet. The result? Suzanne lost eight pounds in n n Child Care from class instructors and personal trainers all Massage Therapy the first three months and twelve more in the n n Juice Bar the way up to directors - should be extremely Medical Day Spa past six months. Suzanne also lost nine and a n knowledgeable, highly experienced, and have Hair Salon half inches, and at least four percent body fat. n an advanced education in physical fitness. Online Fitness & Nutrition Programs n “Ever since I started working out at Tilton The fitness directors at all four Tilton Fitness Fitness Lectures & Workshops n Children’s Fitness Programs Fitness, I’ve felt more energetic,” she said. clubs in southern New Jersey are all certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Convenience: Let’s face facts, if your club is too “I have the stamina to keep up with my two and each of them holds a college degree in the far from your home or where you work, or if toddlers. I love my personal trainer, and I feel exercise sciences. Members benefit from their it doesn’t offer hours that fit into your hectic and look great! Thank you, Tilton Fitness!” rich sports backgrounds and the fitness and schedule, you simply won’t go as often as you To take the first step toward accomplishing your training experience that each Tilton Fitness staff should, if at all. That’s why Tilton Fitness, the fitness goals, call 609-FITNESS, or visit www. member brings to the table. Their knowledge largest and most comprehensive provider of tiltonfitness.com to learn more about the benefits and expertise enables them to customize fitness fitness services in southeastern New Jersey, of membership. Better yet, stop by any of the clubs programs to each individual’s specific needs, maintains four convenient locations in and ask for a tour of the facility.
Offering Preventive Screenings for Vascular Health By Anthony Russo
SOMERS POINT—Shore Memorial Hospital is now offering screenings for three vascular conditions—carotid artery disease, aorta aneurysm and arterial disease in the legs—to help individuals at risk for heart disease and stroke. Vascular screenings are recommended for individuals : • With a history of cardiovascular disease • Who smoke • Who are 50 and older • Who are overweight or obese • Who live a sedentary lifestyle “Patients often don’t realize that they have a vascular condition until they experience stroke symptoms or feel chest pain,” says Valerie DeJoseph, administrative director of cardiovascular health and rehabilitation services. “These screenings can help catch risk factors early so patients can get appropriate treatment before their condition becomes more serious or even life-threatening.” Screenings for carotid artery disease, aorta aneurysm and arterial disease in the legs are available on Thursdays, October
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Screenings last approximately 30 minutes and cost $95. These screeningsarenotcoveredbyprivateinsurance.CalltheEggHarbor Township Outpatient Center at (609) 927-8069 to schedule an appointment.
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By Veronica Dudo Before the fame and fortune, before the glory and before the NASCAR wins, Martin Truex Junior was a Jersey boy and this national champion will proudly tell you—he still is! Last month, Truex returned to his home state, for a two-day charity event benefiting his foundation: The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. The two-day event began with fans having the opportunity to enter the 2nd Annual Golf Tournament at the Seaview Marriot Resort in Galloway Township and following that, it was then time to up the ante and bet for a good cause, with the foundation’s 1st “Hook’em & Hold’em” Poker Tournament at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. “We wanted to give back a little bit just help some children in need not only in my hometown, but in Mooresville (North Carolina), where I currently live. We started out small and each year it gets bigger and we’ve been able to help a lot more people this year than we did last, so all our events have been a big success.” Originally from Stafford Township in Ocean County, Truex followed in his father’s footsteps by racing in the NASCAR Camping World Series in 2000. While
in that series, Truex claimed 13 poles and five wins driving his family owned #56 Sea Watch Chevy. “You know, it’s a lot of fun,” Truex says, “I really enjoy what I do, I really love racing cars, there’s a lot of work that goes along with it. It’s really a lot of fun to do.”
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The 29 year old has also spent a lot of time at the Jersey Shore. He use to work on his father’s fishing boats, right here in Atlantic City. “I’ve been coming down here for a long time, since I was little, hanging around on the docks down there with my Dad and working on the boats and going out.” Since Truex thoroughly enjoys revving things up on and off the track, it made perfect sense for him to start his own foundation in 2007, which is “hooked on helping” and dedicated to working with nonprofit charitable organizations that help children in need. In its short history, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation has made a major impact on the lives of thousands of children in New Jersey and North Carolina, a dream Truex has seen through to reality, “So far it’s been a lot of fun for us and it’s been neat to see the kids that we’ve helped and hear their stories, so it’s been really cool.”
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The Boardwalk Journal | 47
Beyond the Front Page: The Chief ‘Watchdog’ at The Press At 7:30 AM on almost any morning, you’ll find Neill Borowski engaged in his favorite - reading the newspaper. That may not seem unusual for the new Executive Editor and Content Manager of this market’s major daily. But Borowski is not only looking at The Press of Atlantic City. He’s scanning just about every front page in the country. “I start with the papers in New Jersey, then Philadelphia and New York,” he told The Boardwalk Journal. “Then I look at the papers that I respect throughout the country - and their websites.” The web is a real focus for Borowski and The Press. In fact, the Content Manager portion of his title is new, and it reflects the paper’s commitment to its online counterpart. “The industry is moving from a print-only platform into the digital world,” Borowski acknowledged, “and one of the things I’m enjoying now is building the digital platform.” During his first two months on the job, he’s already staffed up the website, putting some of his best people on the job. Digital Reporter Dan Good starts at 5:30 AM and Digital News Editor Peter Brophy comes in at 6:00 AM. Deputy Content Director Steve Warren oversees the online edition, while Charlie Wray handles R&D, or new pages. “We realize that commuters are reading online,” said Borowski. “Our attention is first on how we’re covering a story for the web, then on how we take that forward to the next day in the newspaper. We never want to give readers the same story.” That’s the talk of a seasoned newsman who has spent over three decades in the newsroom - or what he calls “the nerve center” of a newspaper. Just prior to taking the job at The Press, Borowski was Managing Editor of the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, New York. He also served as Managing Editor for Local News at the Indianapolis Star, and he even clocked some time at Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in the United States. Though he’s a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Borowski isn’t a newcomer to New Jersey. He spent 21 years reporting and editing for the Philadelphia Inquirer while living in Cherry Hill. He finds the Jersey Shore a “beautiful place to live”. The Press is a “wonderful family business” and he talks about his staff as “real pros”. “The greatest strength is our staff,” he said of The Press. “The editors and reporters not only are solid journalists, but many have lived here all their lives. They know the area. They know the players. Their institutional knowledge is amazing, and they give me great guidance.” Borowski meets with his team at least twice a day. The morning meeting, at 11:30 AM, typically lasts just fifteen or twenty minutes. “We talk about what we’re chasing throughout the day in terms of news, what’s going on the web, and what’s going in the paper the next day,” he said. In the afternoon, they go over details such as which stories will land on the front page and what will be promoted over the nameplate. “I like a range of news,” Borowski said. “The
By Marjorie Rose
local story about an individual in Galloway Township who is doing exciting things is very uplifting. It makes us all respect our neighbors. But I also love the hard-hitting investigative story that has an impact that causes someone to stop doing something, to get indicted.” Borowski’s own background is in journalism. He received his Master’s degree from Columbia, but he also did some graduate studies in economics and statistics. “I bring that kind of analytical thinking to the table, about our economy and how things fit together,” he said. “We’ve begun to run more economic news, both at the national and international levels.” That doesn’t mean that the focus is no longer on the community. Both in print and online, the community is front and center. “We love to be the town square,” said Borowski. “The community has been wonderful, offering opinions on stories, in chats online, and sending information on their events. We now have AcrossNJ.com, which is a page on our website that gives a round-up of the news.” That’s not to say that The Press isn’t facing its share of challenges. The biggest may be the deep recession that’s cut advertising dollars. “We have two basic goals,” said Borowski. “One is to grow audience. The other is to grow revenue. Journalists don’t grow revenue. So our most important charge is to grow the audience,” he said. “People who are forty and older are loyal newspaper readers. But now we have the web, and Kindle, and the iPhone, and technologies that we haven’t even begun to dream of. I love newspapers, but I’m also a realist. I predict that over the
A.C. Press Executive Editor Neill Borowski next 25 years, we’re going to see newspapers disappearing and these alternate technologies replacing them.” That’s why the web is an important focus for The Press. It’s also why newspapers cannot slack off of their watchdog role. “We can’t lose sight of the fact that we need content-providers who do in-depth research to tell the whole story,” said Borowski. “What’s most important to me right now is to be a solid watchdog. We need investigative reporting now more than ever.” He invites South Jerseyans to join him in his morning ritual. “If you care about your family, the school your kids go to, whether your politicians are corrupt, the quality of the air you breathe and the water you swim in - if you want to be engaged in the community where you live,” he said, “then read the paper. Of course, we hope that’s The Press.”
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609-344-8642 The Boardwalk Journal | 49
In search of the
Jersey Devil
W
e learn this truth from the cradle: when night comes, things - sometimes unspeakable things - crawl out of the dark. It used to be that they would cram themselves into our childhood closets. Or maybe they’d wriggle under the bed. They’d lie in wait there for us to fall asleep. You remember the drill. Your brother or sister would double-triple-quadruple dare you to close your eyes. And you couldn’t. You just couldn’t, not knowing it was there. We don’t admit to our kids that we know about the things that crawl out of the dark because we don’t believe in them anymore. Not really. Not unless we happen to be among the thousands of sane, upstanding adults with respectable jobs who’ve crossed paths with the monstrosity that in 1938 was named as the United States’ only official State Demon. Folks in Kansas have the sunflower for their State Flower. South Dakota has Mount Rushmore, and Kentucky has Churchill Downs. Here in New Jersey, we have the Jersey Devil. Remarkably, our Devil has maintained a certain constancy through the years, and that’s spooky in and of itself. Take a look at some of these eye witness accounts spanning more than a century. “It had a long neck and wings, and its back legs were like those of a crane and it had horse’s hooves.” (1927) “It had a long neck and its features are hideous. It had wings.” (1909) “A kangaroo-like creature with the face of a horse, the head of a dog, wings, horns, and a tail.” (1951) “It ran on its hind legs then it flew off on wings.” (1859) “It had a horse-like head and a tail and wings.” (1841) So what we’ve got here is unarguably a jabberwocky with wings and hooves. Nearly
50 | The Boardwalk Journal
every sighting of our Jersey Devil has described something that’s half bird and half horse. His wings have been described by some as two to three feet long, and by others as being ‘bat-like’. Regardless, they seem to work. No witness ever has argued that this thing can fly. Over the years, trackers have pursued his hoof prints, only to have them disappear at a fence or other obstacle, leaving only one possible explanation. Met with resistance, the Devil went airborne.
He’s partial to poultry, but he’ll tolerate mutton. Over the years, his appearances have often been presaged by chickens going missing. In some instances, they turned up dead days later with no visible marks on them. In others, only a pile of feathers remained. Sheep have been snatched, too, but not quite with the same zeal as our state beast has preyed on fowl. Reports of his stature are also eerily consistent, mostly registering between three feet and seven feet tall, and I find that interesting. What are the odds that no report has registered as gargantuan, as far, far bigger than the average human? We’re nourished on a perception of monsters being humongous. Yet from all reports, our Jersey Devil keeps measuring in as pretty much human-sized. This may be because most versions of the legend insist that the Jersey Devil was human to start with. Back in 1735 (and almost everyone agrees on this date) a beleaguered and impoverished woman named either Lucy Leeds, Jane Leeds, Mother Leeds, or most often just Mrs. Leeds, was faced with the unconscionable news that she was about to give birth to her thirteenth child. Although some say that she snapped after giving birth to Number Twelve, vowing that if she should ever find herself pregnant again she’d damn the child to the devil, other renditions say that this spurt of foul temper didn’t hit Mrs. Leeds until she was actually in labor with Number Thirteen. To be fair, I can’t say that I blame her. Labor is bad enough. Knowing that the reward
By Beverly Bird
for surviving it would be a thirteenth mouth to feed probably wouldn’t inspire me to push. In any event, Jane/Lucy/Mother/Mrs. Leeds then famously pronounced, “The devil can take this one!”
cute, Mrs. Leeds instructed the midwife to toss the poor, squalling, scary thing out the door. He kept trying to come back to his mama, year after year, knocking on her door. Time and again, Mrs. Leeds shooed him off. Eventually, he snapped.
According to legend, Ol’ Satan did just that. Some say the babe was born misshapen and deformed, and this appeals to my need to confine this story to the realm of something almost logical. It makes sense: a woman in labor curses the child squeezing from her womb, then it plops into the midwife’s hands looking plenty scary, whereupon everyone freaks out at the coincidence. To curse your own child is anathema, no matter what the circumstances. It deserves some sort of divine retribution. So when the little Leeds emerged considerably less than perfect, it’s conceivable that a legend was born to be passed on from generation to generation, warning women that they must never ever get pissy about childbirth no matter how many mouths they already have to feed, Look what might happen - your kid could end up roaming the Pine Barrens, dining on raw chicken for another three centuries.
I honestly believe that something heartbreaking happened to someone named Leeds in 1735. Early on Sunday morning, January 16th, Whatever emerged from Mrs. Leeds’ womb Thack (or by some accounts, Zack) Cozzens of that night, there came a time not long afterward Woodbury, New Jersey, happened to be outside when the mere idea of when he viewed a it began to terrorize winged creature with local residents. Maybe glowing eyes flying the midwife did toss down his street. A little It might be theorized him out in the cold. Or later that same morning, that Mrs. White and maybe he was confined John McCowen of Mrs. Sorbinski liked in a basement until he Bristol, Pennsylvania discovered what his saw a similar creature to take a little nip in the wings were for, and then flying along the banks afternoon, but the odds he broke free. Either way, of a nearby canal. Mr. are that this didn’t hold people were so flipped out McCowen called the true for the on-duty by Mrs. Leeds’s ordeal that police. A patrolman cops who swore they the South Jersey populace by the name of James begged a local reverend Sackville responded to saw the beast. to intervene. This man his summons and fired of the cloth attempted valiantly at the beast. to put the kibosh on our It spread its wings and, Devil by exorcizing him. screaming, vanished Unfortunately, exorcism apparently has a few into thin air, unharmed. limitations. Rumor has it that this good man’s Shortly thereafter, E.W. Minister, the postmaster spell would only hold for one hundred years. of Bristol, stepped outside to see a bird-like The reverend was honest and he told South creature with a horse’s head and hooves flying Jerseyans of this little hitch right up front. They across the sky, emitting a piercing scream. Then had until 1840 and then all hell was likely to daylight came, and in the sunlight, the residents break loose again. The people wanted him to of Bristol found a multitude of strange tracks in go for it regardless, most likely because none of their new fallen snow. them expected to be around in a hundred more On Monday, in Burlington, New Jersey, folks years anyway. found similar hoof prints in hundreds of their But here’s the thing. Peace really did descend backyards. Garbage they’d put out for the city upon the Pine Barrens after the reverend’s collector had been gobbled up, and not politely. ceremonial edict. In the next hundred years, only two sightings of our Jersey Devil were Later in the week, the Jersey Devil reportedly reported. Then, after 1840, just as the long- attacked a dog owned by Mary Sorbinski in departed reverend had predicted, the Jersey South Camden. She heard her pet scream and raced outside. She chased the Devil away with a Devil came back with a vengeance. broom, but unfortunately not before the beast Between 1859 and 1894, hundreds of sightings
But while the above scenario appeals to my need to make this story sane and sensible, other versions of the Jersey Devil’s origin are anything but. One goes that Mrs. Leeds’s babe emerged looking sweet and in need of coddling. Then, due to his mother’s somewhat negative mood and her deal with the devil, the baby began to...well, morph. Now the tale divides again. Some versions say that Jane/Lucy/Mother/Mrs. Leeds promptly sheltered her baby in the basement so that the curious could never mock him. But then a dark and stormy night came along and it hit Junior Number Thirteen the wrong way. He began flapping his arms, which then turned into wings. He whooshed up the chimney and was never seen by the family again. Then there are those who say that when the babe started to become something less than
October 2009
October 2009
were reported in Haddonfield, Bridgeton, Smithfield, Long Branch, Brigantine, and - of course - Leeds Point in Galloway. Then came the infamous week in late January of 1909 when more sightings were reported than at any other time in history.
had taken a piece of her pup’s hide. Elsewhere that week, a track walker on the electric railroad line saw the Jersey Devil fly into the wires overhead. Sparks flew and the track was melted for twenty feet in either direction...but no body of the Devil was ever found. On Thursday, our State Demon visited Trenton. Councilman E.P. Weeden woke there to a cacophony of flapping wings outside his front door. When he opened it, he found a latticework of hoof prints in the snow on his porch. A day later, a Mrs. White was taking clothing off her line in the back of her home when she noticed a strange creature huddled in the corner of her yard. Unfortunately, right after she sounded an alarm, she fainted. Her husband flew from the house and to her rescue, and he saw a beast with red eyes. He threatened it with a clothesline prop. It flew over a fence and disappeared. On Friday, a police officer in Camden by the name of Louis Strehr spotted the Jersey Devil drinking from a horse’s trough. The Reverend John Pursell of Pemberton caught a glimpse of him in his backyard at dawn. In Collingswood, a Devil-hunting posse watched him take flight out of the woods and head toward Moorestown. There, John Smith of Maple Shade saw him at the Mount Carmel Cemetery. The people who witnessed these events were upstanding pillars of their society. They included postmasters and policemen, a city councilman and a reverend. It might be theorized that Mrs. White and Mrs. Sorbinski liked to take a little nip in the afternoon, but the odds are that this didn’t hold true for the on-duty cops who swore they saw the beast. In 1927, a cab driver on his way to Salem suffered a flat in the middle of nowhere. As he was changing the tire, the Jersey Devil approached him, at first standing upright, then flying onto the roof of the cab. He shook the car this way and that, and the driver ran off, not daring to look back. 1951 brought the ‘Invasion
The Boardwalk Journal | 51
Rumors of the Devil’s death circulated briefly in 1957. After a fire in the Barrens, the Department of Conservation found among the ashes a partial skeleton with singed feathers and hind legs that didn’t exactly lend themselves to belonging to any known creature. But four years later, our Jersey Devil was back in action again.
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In 1961, four teenagers were parked in a car in the Barrens, doing what teenagers have always done when they’ve found themselves alone together in cars in the middle of nowhere. Their shenanigans were interrupted by the roof of their car suddenly caving in as something ungodly landed upon it and screeched. The kids flew from the car and took off, and then they crept back in the dark to try to figure out what had just happened to them. The screeching sound reverberated through the night again and they saw the Jersey Devil battering his way through the treetops, taking down limbs and chunks of bark as he flew. In 1966, Steven Silkotch found an entire shed full of his poultry dead, with no marks at all upon them. He had two large German Shepherds patrolling his farm, and both of these were torn to shreds. In 1987, a German Shepherd dog in Vineland was also found eviscerated, his body a good ten yards from the chain that had been holding him to his yard. Those strange hoof-tracks had beaten up the ground all around him. In 1993, a forest ranger named John Irwin was driving along the Mullica River when the beast leaped onto the narrow, dirt road ahead of his vehicle - six feet tall, with horns, a tail, wings, and hooves. The two engaged in a staring contest for seconds that probably felt like minutes, and then the Devil ran into the forest.
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There’s a school of thought that says that the Devil is most apt to become stirred up just before times of war and national strife. I can’t imagine how or why this nocturnal nasty, spurned from the womb and still angry about it 275 years later, would want to add to his personal burden by worrying about politics. But maybe there’s something in the air at these times, some sort of vibration of anger
and discontent that he rises to. Or maybe it’s something else entirely egging him on. 1909, that great flurry of the Jersey Devil’s discontent, was said to have been the harbinger of World War I, though that war really didn’t launch for five more years. 1927 was way too early for World War II. That didn’t start until 1939. But the New York Yankees won the World Series that year. Some (though they will remain anonymous for purposes of this story) might consider that to be a notable event. By 1936, a year with another flurry of Devil sightings, we were a bit closer to the brink of World War II. And guess what? The Yankees won the World Series again. The 1939 sightings directly link to World War II. And, yes, the Yankees won the World Series again. This brings us up to 1951 and the Invasion of Gibbsboro. The Korean War was in full swing. And – you guessed it – the New York Yankees won the World Series. In 1961, we had the Viet Nam war. Oh, and the Yankees won the World Series. In 1978, another year notable for the Devil kicking up his heels, America was neither at war nor even contemplating it. But the Yankees clinched their 22nd World Series Championship. I haven’t found even one account of the Jersey Devil actually harming a human being in his three-century reign of terror. Maybe for this reason, the most practical-minded among us have tried hard to convince ourselves that he’s nothing more than a natural predator - and 275 years’ worth of its descendants - chomping down on untended pets and poultry in order to feed and survive. Back before South Jerseyans began building houses and fencing off farms, the sand hill crane was indigenous to our area. It had a wingspan in excess of six feet and a distinct whooping scream. But the sand hill crane never expressed a taste for chicken and there have been no reports of its legs ending in hooves. The great horned owl has a wingspan of more than five feet and has been known to attack humans, though not, to my knowledge, automobiles. Maybe one or both of these clashed with civilization, and then legend took over. Or maybe our Jersey Devil is a Yankees fan who just wants people to stay out of his sandy den so he can follow the games in peace.
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October 2009
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of Gibbsboro’. Over a two-day period, the beast stomped through yards, ravaged pets and livestock, and was responsible for the demise of at least one telephone pole.
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When I was a kid, there weren’t a lot of frills associated with Halloween. It used to be that come October 31, all you had to do was cut some eyes out of a sheet and you had yourself a good costume. Trick-or-treating and pumpkin painting were the main festivities. Full-sized candy bars were the norm. My, how things have changed.
Now Halloween is an event, and there are activities galore to mark its passing. From family-friendly hayrides to G-rated Halloween parades, to frightening local legends and ghost tours, there’s something designed to get everyone into the Halloween spirit. Here is a rundown of some local highlights. EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE. For the ultimate in old-fashioned family fun, The Ocean City Halloween Parade, established in 1948, is a can’t-miss event. In its 62nd year, the parade is the second largest of its kind in New Jersey and it boasts thousands of spectators, a full staff of volunteers, and a host of ghosts and goblins, as well as floats, fire trucks, and terrific musicians. It’s free to both spectators and participants, so you certainly can’t beat the price. And with eight judged divisions - including three kids’ divisions, two big float divisions (non-commercial and commercial), as well as divisions for families and community organizations - there’s something of interest for everyone. The Ocean City Halloween Parade is presented by the Ocean City Exchange Club in an effort to raise community awareness about the club and its largest mission, the prevention of child abuse. Chaired by Jeff Shirk of Fortress Financial, the Ocean City Halloween Parade is a muchloved town tradition led by a Grand Marshall - usually a well known town citizen appointed by Shirk - and judged by five to six judges at the foot of City Hall at 9th and Asbury Streets. Highlights of the parade include the Mystery Marcher (a well known Ocean City citizen disguised as a gorilla) and the Original Hobo Band from Pitman, New Jersey. Held every
54 | The Boardwalk Journal
year on the Thursday before Halloween, the parade begins at 7:15 PM and runs from 6th to 11th streets on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City. Advance registration begins on October 1 at the Ocean City Sentinel at 112 East 8th Street. A late registration table is available the night of the parade. For more details, call the Halloween Parade Hotline at 1-800-813-5580 or visit www.ochp.blogspot.com.
INTO THE WOODS. Usually an idyllic scene, Birch Grove Park in Northfield seems eerily reminiscent of several horror films come Halloween. Situated on 271 heavily wooded acres and dotted with fishing lakes, one can easily misinterpret the tranquil setting as a backdrop of frightening things to come. This is why Birch Grove Park is the perfect location for a haunted hayride. For more than ten years, Birch Grove Park has held these hayrides in the spirit of the holiday. Designed to thrill, the hayride route features several spooky and gruesome vignettes, planned and implemented by Park Supervisor Vicki Rutter and a small committee of dedicated volunteers. From ghosts and goblins to vampires and monsters, the atmosphere is guaranteed to spook. Actors further enhance the fear factor, making the Birch Grove Haunted Hayride a huge hit with visitors, usually four to five hundred per night. Haunted Hayrides take place on October 16 and 17, October 23 through October 25, and on October 30. They run from 6:30 to 10:00 PM most nights, though the hayrides end at 9:00 PM on October 25. Tickets are $6 per person and do not require reservations. By the way, if a hayride seems like fun but the haunted version seems a bit too frightening, family hayrides are also available at Birch Grove Park on alternating evenings. While both types of hayrides take the same course through the park, the family hayride doesn’t utilize any live acts and it also provides treats for the kids. Family hayrides are available on October 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, and from October 27 through October 29 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Tickets are $3 per person and can
be purchased at the park. No reservations are required. Non-haunted daytime hayrides are also available for groups by appointment. Call the park at 641-3778 for details.
BLAST FROM THE PAST. History buffs and thrill seekers alike will enjoy the Ghost Walk of Mays Landing. Hosted by the Township of Hamilton Historical Society, this one-night annual event takes participants on a historical tour of Main Street, Mays Landing, for a bit of local lore mixed with ghoulish good times. During the tours, local residents and shopkeepers address participants regarding the history and possible hauntings associated with their homes or stores. Highlights include a visit to the Court House as well as the local cemetery. The Court House, built in 1838, is rumored to be haunted by several ghosts, including a child on the second floor and a crying woman at the back of the oldest courtroom. Court House employees tell stories of both the elevator and the lights running on their own. The local cemetery features characters representing historical figures from Township history. One such figure is that of Captain William Treen, a ship captain turned pirate during the Revolutionary War. The Ghost Walk began nearly ten years ago as a way to celebrate the millennium, and has evolved into a much-anticipated Halloween event benefiting the Mays Landing community. The Ghost Walk will be held this year on Friday, October 23. Saturday, October 24, is the rain date. Run by volunteers, the tours begin every half hour between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. They start at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main Street and Cape May Avenue (Route 50). Tickets are $6 per adult and $3 per child under 12 and are sold at the door. No reservations are needed. CARE TO BE SCARED? Finally, those with an appetite for hauntings should be sure to visit to the Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May, regarded as one of the most haunted places in America. Built in 1869 for Dr. Emlen Physick Jr., who resided in the estate with his
October 2009
widowed mother and his maiden aunt, the Physick Estate is considered to be Cape May’s original haunted house. While the Physick Estate is available to tour throughout the year, no time is better than Halloween for an encounter with the ghosts of Cape May.
Run by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, there are multiple tours available for those interested in visiting the Physick Estate. For the very brave, ‘Midnight at the Physick Estate’ is hosted by Craig McManus, renowned psychic medium and author of 400 Years of the Ghosts of Cape May. McManus leads a small group of guests through the house, all the while communing with its spirit residents. Held on two nights only - October 23 and 24 - the 11:00 PM event is limited to 25 attendees and is already sold out for this year. However, Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts maintains a waiting list as well as an advance notice mailing list. If you can’t wait until next year, ‘Phantoms of the Physick Estate’ is a self-guided tour of Cape May’s haunted house available throughout October. At $12 per adult and $6 per child, ages three to twelve, this family friendly tour will satisfy your hunger for all things spooky. Interactive activities, such as palm readings, Ouija Board séances, and a reading of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven, will be available in several rooms of the Physick Estate. Tours are available on October 17 and 24, from 11:00 AM through 4:00 PM and from 6:00 through 8:30 PM, on October 30 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, and on Halloween, October 31, from 11:00 AM through 4:00 PM. Tickets are available through Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts at (800) 275-4278 or on their website at www.capemaymac.org.
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Jury Still Out on Eagles Vick Move
The Hunt For Red October By Chuck Betson
By Mike Missanelli
As the Michael Vick introductory news conference played out several weeks ago at Philadelphia Eagles headquarters, I found myself thinking of the movie Trading Places. You know the one: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, and Jamie Lee Curtis. A couple of rich guys plan the kind of ‘scientific’ experiment that only rich guys can get away with. They turn a street thug with a criminal rap sheet into a respectable gentleman, and at the same time they make the respectable gentleman into a criminal. On the experiment, they bet the highest of stakes: one dollar. Michael Vick That day of the news conference, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie spent so much time talking about Vick as a human reclamation project that I wondered if he’s chasing the same dream that ‘Mortimer Duke’ coveted in Trading Places: the Nobel Prize. What do you buy the man who already has everything? That theory makes for some excellent barroom fodder, but what I suspect is that the Eagles took a shot on Michael Vick purely for football reasons. If Donovan McNabb gets hurt (he has), or plays ineffectively this season, the coaching staff doesn’t believe that backup quarterback Kevin Kolb is good enough to continue a Super Bowl run. And in the end, that would leave an ugly yellow egg stain on the face of Eagles president Joe Banner, who has gone on record as saying that this Eagles team has the best roster in the NFL. I don’t know how it’s going to play out with Vick on the football field. He’s been out of the game for two years and even when he was a starting quarterback, he didn’t set the world on fire. His election to the Pro Bowl and a couple of decent playoff wins were
56 | The Boardwalk Journal
more a product of his dynamic athletic ability than quarterback acumen. It’s possible that Vick’s contribution to the Eagles this season might be restricted to a couple of gadget plays where he takes a direct snap and runs like hell. Or maybe he’ll line up as a wide receiver and execute a double pass for seventy yards to a streaking downfield receiver. But I don’t think there can be any question that the Eagles felt like they’d be more of a threat to actually win something this season with Vick rather than Kolb if McNabb doesn’t answer the bell. With Vick, of course, it‘s not just about football. You’d have to go back to the late 1960’s - when the 76ers traded perhaps the best basketball player in history, Wilt Chamberlain, for four cans of tomatoes - to find a more stunning sports story in Philadelphia. Sure, the Flyers got Eric Lindros in that dramatic arbitration decision. The Eagles signed Terrell Owens, then sent him home the following year and he wound up doing shirtless sit-ups in his ugly asphalt driveway in front of a phalanx of television cameras. But signing Michael Vick, a guy just out of prison for running an illegal dog fighting gambling ring - an operation that included Vick killing and torturing dogs via electrocution and by slamming them to their death just because they lost in the ring? This is the kind of move we expect from an organization that reminds us every few days or so that they only seek out players with character? Two years ago, Lurie was on the record as saying that he would never have anyone on his team involved in dog fighting. In the Lurie regime, the Eagles cut starting safety Damon Moore because he left a dog tied to a post on high school field as a way of removing the dog from his house because he didn’t want to take care of it anymore. Backup running back Thomas Hamner got cut because he was arrested in the off-season for animal cruelty. Only a cynic would point out that Vick’s transgressions were pushed under the rug because he’s a more valuable player than either Moore or Hamner. What the Philadelphia Eagles have done here is to force an intersection of worlds. They’ve put
their fans into a very uncomfortable position. Philadelphia loves its pro football team, but they could find it distasteful to root for a player they might not want to root for, whose acts reflect a certain human depravity. Two worlds have collided and an ugly racial tempest has formed as a by-product. In a world where black people constantly struggle to get a fair shake in what they perceive to be still a whitedominated society, the Vick issue has become a reflection of the cause. Animal rights activists who think Michael Vick’s acts are heinous have been reduced to white folks who must be racist if they oppose his inclusion with the team. And that kind of thought only further disturbs true racial progress. The notion that a man has paid his dues to society just because he has served prison time is not absolute. Some crimes - and the acts of those crimes - leave a stain that wears off only over time. And that time is undetermined. A child molester never finds a safe haven in society, nor does a rapist or a murderer. Nobody is saying that what Michael Vick did is as serious as those acts. But the act of killing a domestic animal for no reason other than greed and ignorance is barbaric and disgusting. And before I’m willing to accept and embrace Michael Vick as this reformed man, whether he is black, white, purple, or Eagles green, I need a little more time.
The hunt for another Philadelphia Phillies Red October begins anew this month. The popular theory is that the stars, along with Jupiter and Mars, are not aligned for the Phillies this time around. And the theorists might be right as injuries have plagued the bullpen. The Phillies injury list going into October looks a lot like an old M.A.S.H. rerun. The injury envelope please:
h Lefthander Scott Eyre: injured elbow
h Lefthander J.C. Romero: injured forearm
h Lefthander J.A. Happ: an oblique strain
that will need surgery after the season. that has plagued him since his fifty-game suspension.
that has evolved into an intercostal sprain.
h Righthander Pedro Martinez: a stiff neck. h Righthander Chan Ho Park: a pulled
hamstring that may be healing quicker than expected.
h Righthander Brett Myers: a sprained right shoulder. Did Myers come back too fast from that hip injury?
h Catcher Carlos Ruiz: a sprained left wrist that appears to be healing.
Now you know why a National League team has not repeated as World Series champions since the Cincinnati Reds did it in 1976. The long and winding road of a baseball season is full of injuries and other assorted potholes.
Dr. Martin Luther King, one of the three greatest Americans of all time, said that we should not judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. With all due respect to Jeffrey Lurie’s quest for the Nobel Prize, it’s the character part of Michael Vick that I need a little more time to study.
But despite the injuries, these Phillies continue to be so easy to love. From Chase Utley’s ‘born to play baseball’ persona to Ryan Howard’s power, the Phillies will be a force to be reckoned with in October, no matter how many injuries the team has suffered. This is a lineup with four players who have more than thirty home runs Howard, Utley, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez - and that just doesn’t happen everyday. And can you ever remember a better Phillies starting rotation going into October than Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, and Martinez? Then add Happ and Jamie Moyer for insurance.
Mike Missanelli hosts the #1 rated evening drive sports talk show in Philadelphia, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM daily on radio station 950 ESPN. He is an attorney and an author. His book, The Perfect Season, How Penn State Stopped a Hurricane and Won a National Championship, is currently available in area bookstores.
What happens in October doesn’t always mimic what happens in the regular season, but these Phillies seem built for post season success, with the bullpen being the giant question. And nobody wears a more giant question mark than closer Brad Lidge with his 7.34 ERA and his ten (this could change) blown saves. How Charlie Manuel manages his bullpen during the post season will be the final story of this season.
October 2009
October 2009
But no matter what happens in the post season, these Phillies have been another constant of our summer as we reveled in seeing Shane Victorino run those bases and Jimmy Rollins make that play at shortstop. That’s what makes baseball so great. It’s there with us every night and again on Sundays, as June busts into July and July meanders into August and August fades into September. The opening of the NFL season always steals thunder from baseball, but when October rolls around, the baseball playoffs will take center stage. And the Phillies are just so much easier to like than the Eagles, an organization still green with envy about the way the Phillies won the World Series last season, which led to a parade that will never again be duplicated in these environs.
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In October, it’s always the unknown that creeps into play. Remember the Matt Stairs home run last season against the Dodgers in the playoffs? So who will it be this year? Pedro Feliz, who had 26 doubles and was hitting .264 going into the last week of the season? Or maybe Ben Francisco who has been more than a throw-in in the deal that brought Lee to Philadelphia from Cleveland? These are the questions that only whet our appetite for post season baseball. And if it seems like it happens every October, well, it doesn’t. Prior to the 2007 post season, the Phillies had not been there since 1993. So please do not take October baseball for granted, baseball people of the Phillies persuasion. Not since the mid1970s have the Phillies enjoyed a stretch like this when Utley, Howard, and Rollins have evolved from Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Garry Maddox. This combination of likable players, an incredible ballpark, and a rejuvenated fan base have made the Phillies an October express. Nest stop, World Series. Can you say PhilliesYankees in the Fall Classic? Now that might be too much for us all to take. Such a matchup would create deep feelings in southern New Jersey with the amount of Yankees fans among us. Talk about stars. How about Derek Jeter and A-Rod going against Howard and Utley? There’s always that great anticipation that Carly Simon once sang about. October is here. Don’t keep us waiting any more, baseball. Deliver in the clutch like you always seem to do.
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609-822-4839 The Boardwalk Journal | 57
(Continued from page 25)
festival grounds? I can go on and on about the space in Atlantic City that could be put to use to draw attention. The simple fact is that Atlantic City is evolving and will always be a fraction of the size of Las Vegas. And I think that’s a good thing. It allows the city to embrace destinationoriented events like the recent Atlantic City Food and Wine Show, the Boat Show, and the ever-growing and always-awesome ‘Celebration of the Suds’ - the Atlantic City Beer Festival held every March here in Atlantic City. Things like this are what will drive new visitors to Atlantic City and sell more hotel rooms and more restaurant reservations. They’ll expose all the gaming and non-gaming amenities to a large group of people who come to us for more than just gaming.
Tracy Talley, Melody Tuck and Luisa Restrepo of The Irish Pub are eager to serve you!
Ballys Park Place ring card beauty smiles for the camera
You’re Senior Executive of Player Development at Harrah’s. Talk about the pivotal role that Harrah’s Entertainment has played in raising the bar for the other casino properties in Atlantic City. What have they done that has literally changed the landscape of the city? I started at Harrah’s eight years ago, right before we opened the Bay Tower. I was in awe of that Tower when it opened. There wasn’t anything like
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Let’s say that I want to be like Tony Soprano. Before I get a Russian girlfriend, I’m going to need a humidor full of cigars. Any suggestions? It all really depends on your palate and how strong of a cigar you can handle. I’ve been on a Liga Pravada #9 kick lately. It’s a 4 x 54 robusto with outrageous flavor. For a milder smoke, I suggest a Kristoff Nartua 6 x 52. It’s a real even smoke with a great draw. There are tons of good directions to go. You should stop in and I’ll walk you through them.
As if you’re not busy enough with The Cigar Boxx, Beer Fest, and your job at Harrah’s, do you have any new projects currently in development? A new addition to the calendar of events for 2010 is the Summer Ale Fest and Barbeque on August 21 at the Atlantic City Race Course in Hamilton Township. The Wildcard Tattoo Extravaganza will make a return in 2010, as well as some returning events in association with Harrah’s Entertainment that were once Atlantic City staples. 2010 is going to be a great year for fun destination events in Atlantic City and I plan to have a hand in it.
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Let’s talk about The Cigar Boxx. What separates your store from other cigar shops? What separates my store from others is – that’s where I smoke. I transformed the shop into a place where I’d hang out with friends to enjoy a
great cigar. I noticed there was a need for a great place with a homey feeling to gather with your friends and relax. I added five plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, a Wii system, and comfortable leather furniture. It’s the perfect man cave to put your feet up, relax with friends, and hide from the rest of the world. I stocked a 350 square foot humidor with 75 brands and over 500 different types of cigars to entice all types of smokers, from the novices to the true cigar aficionado. Then I topped it off with a knowledgeable staff that can answer questions and lead people toward the best cigar for their pallet. I’m not by any stretch of the imagination a retail-oriented person. I just know what people like, and how people like to be treated. We focus on that and on good smokes.
Your name is synonymous with Beer Fest. Tell us what that’s all about? Beer Fest has turned into Atlantic City’s most popular event in just four years. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of. It debuted in March of 2005 and saw about five thousand attendees. The show grew and became Atlantic City’s most popular show in 2009 when it sold out to a crowd of over fifteen thousand attendees and sold over twelve hundred hotel rooms. The 2009 event featured seventy breweries with over three hundred beers, live entertainment, and an all around great time. As of now, the next Atlantic City Beer Festival is set for March 20 and 21, 2010.
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it in the city. I really didn’t think we could improve it any more. Now, eight years later, the transition is mind-blowing: The Pool, the Waterfront Tower, the new dining amenities... To be part of the property from then until now and to have witnessed the transition firsthand has been the best part of my Harrah’s experience. I think that as a company owning the lion’s share of Atlantic City, Harrah’s has made some bold moves insofar as its non-gaming amenities. A prime example is The Pool. In just two years, it’s grown into one of the hottest night clubs in the country, not bad for a building that had no nightlife until it opened. Before The Pool, there was very little high profile nightlife in the city. Harrah’s is responsible for introducing a whole new customer to our city. Then look at the transition Caesar’s and The Pier has introduced with its high-end shopping experience. It’s your typical bull-by-the-horns scenario. The city needed the amenities and when the Borgata opened the door, Harrah’s reacted and reacted loudly.
October 2009
The Boardwalk Journal | 59
Atlantic City
A Place We Call Home
By Ken Calemmo
Boogie Nights at Resorts Hotel and Casino
Who Says Trick-or-Treating is for Kids? Halloween 2009 will be here soon enough – and there is no better place to party than in Atlantic City. Costume contests, theme parties, guest DJs, spooky cocktails, and even a magic show and a couple of scary movies are all on deck.
Party on
Borgata will be hosting a Playboy-themed Halloween at all three of its night spots – Gypsy Bar, MIXX and mur. mur. DJ Irie will be performing at MIXX and DJ D Nice will be spinning at mur.mur. The Quarter at Tropicana Casino Resort will hold its annual Halloween Costume Contest in Fiesta Plaza on the 31st, but this year, it will only be open to IN Card and Diamond Club members. The IN Card is the casino’s new player’s card, which is free to obtain. Prizes, including Trop gift cards and show tickets, will be awarded for best overall costume, best group costume, and scariest costume. Hooters will be offering a $666.00 cash prize for best costume at 11 p.m., as will A Dam Good Sports Bar at 1 a.m., and Firewaters at 3 a.m. Cuba Libra in The Quarter will also host its own costume contest on the 31st. Planet Rose will host “Scaryoke” all night with spooky songs, giveaways, and a $5 spooky signature cocktail and shot menu.
By Regina Schaffer
Boogie Nights at Resorts will host its second annual Booo-gie Nights Halloween Weekend the 30th and 31st. If you don’t want to dance, there is always a haunted swim – The Pool at Harrah’s will host its “aquatic Halloween” with guest DJ and contests.
Scary movie
What better night to take in a horror flick than Halloween? On the 30th and 31st, the IMAX, located in The Quarter at Tropicana, will show The Omen at 10 p.m., followed by Damien: The Omen II at midnight. Tickets will be $10 for each or $15 for both. Check out Tropicana. net/thequarter for more information pr ticketmaster. com to purchase tickets.
A little bit of magic
Master illusionist David Caserta comes to the Superstar Theater at Resorts Casino Hotel Oct. 24 for “Haunted Illusions,” a show that promises levitating, disappearing, and reappearing people right before your eyes. Audience participation will get everyone in on the haunted act. For more information, check out resortsac.com or ticketmaster.com.
Spooky spirits Many of the bars and restaurants will be offering their own spin on a good scar y drink, so be sure to check out what’s available that night. Carmines restaurant will be offering what they have dubbed the “Smashing Pumpkin Mar tini”: 2 oz. Absolut Vanilla 1 oz .Baileys Irish Cream 1 oz. Frangelico 1 oz. Hiram Pumpkin Spice Liquor Dash of milk, whipped cream, and nutmeg Add all ingredients to a mixing glass packed with ice, shake and strain into a Carmine’s martini glass. Garnish with a dab of whipped cream and sprinkle some nutmeg.
Boogie Night’s “Booo-gie Night II” will feature a themed masquerade party on Friday, Oct. 30 and Vampire-themed costume party on Saturday, Oct. 31. There will be a variety of contests held each evening, with thousands in prizes awarded by Resorts and radio station WAYV.
Whether you are a frequent flyer or a vacation traveler it is hard to support the proposition that airline travel in recent years can be enjoyable. However, the folks at South Jersey Transportation Authority – SJTA - have been doing a pretty good job to support that argument. SJTA operates the Atlantic City International Airport – ACY - and has made it its mission to make every passengers travel through their terminal a quick, pleasant and welcoming experience. In recent years ACY has received numerous upgraded amenities to accommodate the traveler. I have personally traveled throughout the country and can honestly say the coming and going through ACY has been the best travel experience I have ever had. They have added a 1300 space parking garage that accepts EZ-Pass, renovated the interior of the airport terminal, and improved the baggage area access (less chance of lost luggage). Best of all, ACY has been designated as the test site for emerging security technologies. What that means to the traveler is a less intrusive and much quicker screening process. In fact, the first technology to be tested was a prototype shoe screening device that eliminates the need to remove your shoes during the screening process. You gotta love that. Due to these enhancements, your entire visit to ACY is all of 11 minutes. That is right. The average time from arrival at ACY and getting to the gate is 11 minutes!! However, if you want to spend a few extra minutes try out
Samuel Adams Brew Pub that is offering an assortment of namesake brews located on the airport’s second floor. Here are some fun facts I bet you did not know about the Atlantic City International Airport: •The ACY airport property is large enough to contain all of Philadelphia, Newark and 60% of LaGuardia International Airports •Pilots for the official Presidential Aircraft "Air Force One" use ACY for practice and training •ACY is a designated alternative landing site for the NASA space shuttle •The runway at ACY can handle any size/weight aircraft •The Antonov Cargo plane unloaded a train to be delivered to the Camden Riverline and also landed the cargo plane to deliver a reactor head for the Salem Generating Station (The Antonov is the world's largest cargo plane) •The Concorde often landed at ACY before it was retired •ACY is the home base of the Jersey Devils F-16 177th Fighter Wing patroling from Maine to Washington DC •Federal Air Marshals are trained at the surrounding airport site •ACY shares the campus with the FAA Technical Center – the largest aviation research center in the U.S. and soon to be home of the most unique Aviation Technical and Research Park in the country •ACY with the TSA Security Labs
serves as a test bed for new innovative security products that will eventually enter the marketplace improving the travel experience of air passengers nationwide. What can I say other than air travel is now an enjoyable experience when you travel trough Atlantic City International Airport. Now more than ever there are more airlines flying to more destinations. Spirit Airlines
continues to fly from ACY to Florida cities and Myrtle Beach. And now has direct flights to Boston. Airtran is now providing air service to Atlanta providing connections to over 50 destinations in the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean and Mexico. Don P. Hurley And,By this month WestJet will begin flights to Toronto – connecting points throughout Canada. If you need to fly make ACY your next bet. Please send in your favorite Atlantic City story at ken_calemmo@cooperlevenson.com
Boardwalk Beauty
October
2009
Jeanine Whittaker Ha mmonton, NJ
You never ask a woman her age.
DON HENLEY NOVEMBER 14
With Jeanine Whittaker, you don’t have to ask, she’ll tell you. “I’m 35-years-old, I’m happily married and I am the mother of four wonderful children: Frankie, Tyler, Samantha and Alyssa and we have two Bichon Frise dogs named Max and Emma.” Born and raised in Hammonton, she still resides there where she owns and operates a salon in town. Studio 21 Tan is an airbrushed tanning salon that is a safe alternative for people who want to look tan, but are concerned about the dangers of sun exposure. “All of our products are 100% organic and eco-friendly and the whole process takes 5 minutes to apply and another 5 minutes to dry,” said Jeanine,
JULIO IGLESIAS NOVEMBER 28
“The tan will last for approximately 7 to 10 days and is a great for weddings, proms, special events and an overall healthy glowing look.” The professionals at Studio 21 Tan customize the color that is airbrushed to blend well with your natural skin tone, so you won’t have to worry about leaving the salon looking like an oompa loompa. For more information on Studio 21 Tan please call 609.704.TANN or visit their website at www.studio21tan.com.
LIONEL RICHIE DECEMBER 4
21 Central Avenue, Hammonton, NJ
Do you know a Boardwalk Beauty? If so, please contact The Boardwalk Journal at BoardwalkJournal@gmail.com.
Please send us a photograph, short bio and contact information and if we select your Boardwalk Beauty, you and your 21ofCentral Avenue • Hammonton, NJ Beauty will receive a complimentary dinner at one of Atlantic City’s finest restaurants courtesy The Boardwalk Journal.
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