Gubernatorial Debate
It seems there wasn’t a whole lot of news in South Jersey yesterday beyond Stockton University’s hosting of the first debate among candidates for New Jersey Governor. There was a lot of Christie-bashing, which morphed into follow-up bashing of lead-candidate Phil Murphy’s ties to Wall Street. There was little in the way of new policy and there was broad agreement over funding schools and public pensions. Read The Philadelphia Inquirer’s take here and The Press of Atlantic City’s here.
Turkey Point at Dividing Creek, by @suerogo0624 on Instagram.
AC Beer Garden
A plan to bring an open-air beer garden to Atlantic City (between the Ritz condominiums and California Ave) is a step closer to happening after CRDA’s planning officer recommended the project go ahead. The beer garden (which will also serve food) will be an offshoot of the next-door Bungalow bar and the Bungalow beach bar. The owners still have to go through the city’s licensing process and get permission to use a strip of the Boardwalk for additional space, but it could open this summer. Some demolition was already happening on the site when we went past yesterday. Read more here.
In the rest of the day’s news, Starbucks is coming to the Boardwalk soon – the sign is up, a hydroponic farm could move to Camden with tax breaks, NJ could become (officially) The Garden State, and Rowan and Rutgers have launched a joint program for Alzheimer’s caregivers. All that and more below:
Volunteers Needed For Terrapin Rescue Project May 13–Volunteers are needed for the Margate Terrapin Rescue Project's annual installation being held rain or shine 8 am to noon Saturday, May 13, along the Downbeach Express causeway. Shore News Today
Ventnor Teen Recognized for Essay Contest Participation–Tommy Peterson, of Ventnor, was recognized by Mayor Beth Holtzman and the Board of Commissioners on April 20 for participating in an essay contest about what his municipality means to him. Tommy, 17, is a junior at St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland. Shore News Today
Atlantic City TSA Officer Praised for Returning $600 to Passenger–A TSA officer is being applauded for returning $600 dollars to a passenger last week at Atlantic City International Airport. In a world where all you see on the news lately is fights breaking out on flights – here’s some positive airport related news! SoJO 104.9
Murder of Popular Radio Host Remains a Mystery–Wednesday marks the five year anniversary of the murder of radio host April Kauffman at her home in Linwood. Fresh eyes were brought on the case recently with newly appointed Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner, whose office filed a motion requesting the DNA of April's husband, Dr Jim Kauffman. 6abc Philadelphia
Margate adopts budget with less than 1 cent tax rate increase–The Board of Commissioners approved the city’s 2017 municipal budget Thursday, May 4, with a .97-cent tax rate increase. It also approved a $1.2 million bond ordinance to fund heating and air conditioning repairs at Eugene A. Tighe Middle School. Shore News Today