Sunrise at Gardner’s Basin by Chelsea Errichetti (@chelbythesea).
48 Blocks – The Series
A Ventnor-based team of producers is fundraising to film the pilot of a dramatic series in Atlantic City. “A powerful real estate developer must choose between greed and community as his actions determine the future of the 48 blocks that make up present-day Atlantic City,” reads the tagline. We love the pitch (and not only because it includes a strong female lead character who is a reporter uncovering the developer’s troubled past!) We checked in with Little Rock Films + Studios to find out a bit more – read the story here. If you want to support the project and hear more about it, you can come to a fundraiser at Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 5.30 pm.
AC’s Missing Motel Owner
There was a raid, an alligator and a suspicious fire at Atlantic City’s Bayview motel. Now the motel’s owner is missing. Without any action, the buildings that make up the motel will be demolished on Monday, Lynda Cohen reports for BreakingAC.
Libraries
In November, New Jersey will go to the polls and along with the options for a new governor and other representatives, there will be a public question about whether the state should issue a $125 million library-construction bond. Libraries – funded by state and local taxes – have come under increasing financial pressure as New Jersey’s demographics have changed. And while much has been made of declining public interest in paying for or supporting libraries, there was also outcry in Longport after a public question ended the shore-town’s county-library access (and the borough worked hard to open a new library). Matt Skoufalos of NJPen in Camden County interviews three library directors about library funding and the need for the bond funding.
NJ Senator and former Atlantic City Mayor Jim Whelan died. Whelan, 68, had an operation in July to remove a growth from his kidney and announced in January that he would retire. The cause of death was not announced. Whelan was also an Atlantic City lifeguard and schoolteacher (he taught Bill swimming in 5th grade). Read more via BreakingAC.com.
In the rest of the day’s news, it’s the Atlantic City Airshow today (don’t take your drone out), construction of the new Lidl store in Vineland is nearly finished, there were 20 arrests as part of a prostitution sweep in Atlantic City, and a Cherry Hill sailor is among the missing after the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker near Singapore. All that and more below:
New Jersey Getting $55.4M Grant for Superstorm Cleanup Work–A federal lawmaker from New Jersey says the state is getting a $55.4 million grant to help pay for cleanup work related to Superstorm Sandy. Representative Frank Pallone says the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the state for the removal of sand and silt debris that impacted state maintained navigable waterways. Press of Atlantic City
South Jersey Pharmacist Convicted of Selling Opioids to Drug Users – http://www.philly.com/–A Burlington County pharmacist was convicted Tuesday on federal charges of illegally selling oxycodone pills to drug users who gave him fraudulent prescriptions and paid in cash. Michael Ludwikowski, 45, of Medford, owns the Olde Medford Pharmacy and the Medford Family Pharmacy. Philly.com
20 Arrested on Prostitution Charges in Atlantic City–An operation targeting prostitution in Atlantic City resulted in the arrest of 19 women and one man on Saturday, police said. Press of Atlantic City
Construction Nearly Complete on Lidl Grocery Store in Vineland–While Lidl officials haven't announced opening dates for its first New Jersey grocery stores, work is well underway on the Landis Avenue location. Lidl is developing stores in at least six New Jersey counties, including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Monmouth. NJ.com
State Sen. Jim Whelan Has Died–State Senator and former Atlantic City Mayor Jim Whelan has died. “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Senator Jim Whelan,” Senate President Steve Sweeney said in a statement. BreakingAC
Attend a Seafood Festival at the Shore Before Summer Ends–Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10, the Atlantic City Seafood Festival returns, this year at a new location. The 2017 festival will take place in the large outdoor space between the Showboat Hotel and the former Revel Hotel. PhillyVoice
Ventnor and Margate to Get New Bike Racks–The Downbeach communities of Ventnor and Margate will soon sport new bicycle racks at beach access points and in public rights-of-way that are easily accessible to bicyclists thanks to a $275,000 grant from the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. The organization approved the grant last July, but bids solicited by Atlantic County produced no bidders. Ventnor and Margate approved an interlocal agreement for the bicycle rack project, and the engineering firm of Remington, Vernick and Walberg will now solicit bids for the racks, Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf said. Shore News Today
Profits Continue to Rise for Atlantic City’s 7 Casinos–Atlantic City's casinos have seen their gross operating profits increase by nearly 20 percent in the first six months of this year, according to new state date released Tuesday. The figures from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement also showed that the seven casinos reported a collective second-quarter profit of $169.3 million, compared with $145.7 million for the same period last year. www.usnews.com
Pedestrian Struck by NJ Transit Bus on Delsea Drive–A 45-year-old pedestrian was critically injured Tuesday after he walked across the southbound lanes of Delsea Drive and was struck by a NJ Transit bus, according to police. The Daily Journal