Norcross
George Norcross visited The Press of Atlantic City a couple of weeks ago for a 90-minute discussion about AC (and Camden, apparently) with the paper’s editorial board and reporters. The result was this interview published Friday, which is somewhat light on questioning of some of Norcross’ more bizarre assertions (“If we’d had casinos in Camden, you’d be looking at Las Vegas East”) but includes some interesting details, such as Norcross’s belief the state takeover of Atlantic City will continue even if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy (who has said he would end the takeover) wins office. Reception of the piece varied.
Sea Isle, by Darleen Adamo on Instagram.
Some (mostly police) expressed exasperation at Norcross’ hints that Camden’s consolidation of county and city policing could work for Atlantic County and Atlantic City (for one thing, Camden County, unlike Atlantic, includes just one city.) Others (mostly those who work in or around Camden) expressed some satisfaction that Norcross might be turning more of his attention away from that city. The Press followed up on the interview with a weekend editorial that called Norcross ‘Camden’s Champion.’
TennAve
We took a tour of the work on the beach block of Tennessee Avenue, where a coffee shop, beer hall (with beer garden), yoga studio and chocolate bar will be opening in the fall. Check out the piece and photos at Route 40 here.
Rowan
A $350 million development project at Rowan University is building from scratch a ‘downtown’ that aims to meld together the town and gown elements in Glassboro. As Mayor Leo McCabe puts it to The Philadelphia Inquirer, “It’s one of the most important steps toward making Glassboro a true college town.” The Inquirer’s Kevin Riordan stops in with some existing local businesses to hear their thoughts on the project (which will be completed next year). There could be interesting lessons here for Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus (opening in 2019).
In case you missed it while we were dealing with site issues: Atlantic City watchers know the TRUMP brand has been coming down off his old casinos for the last few years. What’s it like to try to start a Trump Heritage Tour in town, when the chief historical attraction doesn’t want to be associated with it anymore? We profiled local
historian Levi Fox and toured the old Taj Mahal to find out.
In the rest of the headlines from the weekend and this morning, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is funding millions of dollars in clean water projects including some in South Jersey, read about the renovations at soon-to-reopen East Point Lighthouse, an investigation is underway into a ‘suspicious’ fire at a closed Atlantic City motel (the same one from which an alligator was removed last week), Gov. Chris Christie is apparently off the list of candidates for a WFAN gig, conventions and conferences already want to come to the Atlantic City Hard Rock casino (among other details in this interview with developers Jack Morris and Joe Jingoli from last week) and the pilot of an aerial advertising company’s plane survived a crash in Middle Township on Sunday. All that and more below:
Cash-Strapped Lakewood Schools Paying $600,000 for New Attorney–The school board is bringing back controversial attorney Michael Inzelbuch, who formerly worked for the district, and will pay him a one-year retainer of $600,000 plus an hourly rate – making Inzelbuch potentially the highest-paid school employee or contractor in the state. Asbury Park Press
Responders Form Human Chain to Rescue Struggling Swimmer in Cape May–Firefighters and lifeguards formed a human chain to rescue a swimmer struggling in waters off Cape May. Authorities say three swimmers in Cape May became trapped around 5:45 p.m. Friday. Press of Atlantic City
Second Rabies Case Confirmed in Galloway Township Fox–Atlantic County health officials are reminding residents of the importance of protecting their pets with a rabies vaccination after a dog that was running with its owner near Waterway Drive on the Stockton University campus in Galloway Township was confronted and bitten by a fox. The fox was soon captured and sent to the state lab for testing where it was confirmed positive for rabies on August 16. atlantic-county.org
DUI Checkpoints Planned for Labor Day Weekend in South Jersey–"Drive sober or get pulled over." Police departments are putting out that warning throughout South Jersey as they gear up for the busy Labor Day weekend, which is about two weeks away. www.snjtoday.com
Margate Wins Goudy Memorial Lifeguard Races–A rough ocean and strong wind had an immediate impact at the 51st annual John T. Goudy Memorial Rescue Races on Friday at the Suffolk Avenue beach in Ventnor. Press of Atlantic City