AC Brewery
The Press of Atlantic City interviews Christopher DeWalt, who has secured over $1 million in state tax credits to relocate his brewery from Pennsylvania to AC – where it will be right next door to Little Water Distillery in the inlet. “Getting state funding is not an easy deal for anyone, but Atlantic City made the pain much easier to deal with because they were there every step of the way,” DeWalt said. His plan includes bringing 15 employees to the city by the end of the first year and employing 85 to 100 workers at the end of his 10-year tax credit program.
Money & Politics
NJ Spotlight profiles the executive director of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) which yesterday held its first full meeting in almost a year, after waiting on Gov. Chris Christie to nominate replacements to fill two empty seats. ELEC is charged with overseeing campaign finance filings from the roughly 6,000 political candidates in the state (!) and it also handles quarterly and annual lobbyist filings. “Things have just gotten so much more complicated regarding campaign finances,” said Jeffrey Brindle, executive director of the commission. “There’s so much more money involved in recent years with the growth of independent spending.”
Susan Allen / Stockton University
For his “Plants and Agriculture” course, Ron Hutchinson, associate professor of Biology, and his students meet at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) greenhouse to grow a variety of produce.
Stockton Students Study Ecology & Agriculture
A group of Stockton students are studying a blend of agriculture and ecology that will prepare them to live sustainably. The course is part of Stockton University’s Agroecology track in the Sustainability program. Yesterday the students visited the ACUA greenhouse to plant seeds for their Earth Day plant sales. You can see more pictures here.
EHT’s Alleged ED Drug Smuggler
We don’t usually get into the salacious news in the Roundup but this story – well, people are going to be talking about it. Former Egg Harbor Township (and Mays Landing) resident Merwin Marc Snyder, 64, was deported from China last month and is now facing charges in federal court in Camden for smuggling erectile dysfunction and abortion-inducing drugs into the United States. The Press of Atlantic City has the story.
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The rest of the headlines from the last 24 hours include news on Margate’s tax increase (yup, in spite of ratables going up), New Jersey is appealing the summer flounder quota reductions, a map of German supermarket chain Lidl’s planned openings in South Jersey (including one in Atlantic County), and – for our politically-interested readers – there are some bizarre maneuverings afoot in Camden county, related to hospital emergency-response times. All that and more below:
Stockton Selected to Host Gubernatorial Primary Debates–Two primary debates for the state’s highest political office will be streamed live on Facebook from Stockton University, a unique concept that helped the institution’s bid to publicize this year’s governor’s race. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission on Tuesday selected Stockton to host a Republican and a Democratic primary gubernatorial debate at the university’s Campus Center Theatre, which seats 254. Press of Atlantic City
Wonder Bar Owner Donates New Flag to Atlantic City Fire Station–When Brian Miranda drove past Fire Station 4 on his way to work as he does every day, he noticed the missing flagpole. He decided to change that and this month, Miranda, who owns the Wonder Bar in the city, donated a new American flag and pole to the station at California and Atlantic avenues, replacing a pole that was blown away in a 2016 storm. Press of Atlantic City
New Jersey Files Formal Appeal of Summer Flounder Quota Reductions–New Jersey representatives to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have filed an appeal requesting the commission reconsider its vote significantly reducing the state’s recreational-fishing quota for summer flounder this year, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. OCNJ Daily
Margate Tax Rate to Rise with $35.71M Budget–Despite a $34.5 million increase in ratables from new construction resulting in $279,747 more in anticipated tax revenue, the city introduced a municipal budget that carries a tax increase March 16. The $35,716,692 municipal budget is up 11.47 percent over last year and includes a tax rate increase of six-tenths of a cent. Shore News Today
See Where German Supermarket Chain Lidl is Planning NJ Stores–Lidl, the German grocery store chain that is hoping to open its first US stores this summer, is in the planning stages for stores in five counties in South Jersey. The newest plans for stores are in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester and Atlantic counties, while officials in Cumberland County have already approved three Lidl grocery stores. NJ.com
Report Shows that Atlantic City is on a Positive Track–A new report reveals that Atlantic City's redevelopment is gathering momentum. On March, 28th the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University released the South Jersey Economic Review, which says things are looking up for the seaside resort after a number of positive developments, including the Hard Rock's purchase of the Trump Taj Mahal and the settling of the tax dispute between the city and Borgata. www.snjtoday.com
In risky bet, N.J. teachers’ union campaigns to oust Senate President Sweeney–TRENTON -- Gov. Christie has antagonized New Jersey’s largest teachers’ union since he took office in 2010, once declaring on television that the national organization deserved a punch in the face. Philly.com
Still not open, former Revel casino launches play-bets site–ATLANTIC CITY (AP) - Atlantic City's former Revel casino remains shut, but it's gathering potential customers in case it ever does open. Philly.com
In fight over EMS, Virtua Hospital blasts Camden County’s ‘political machine’–Virtua Hospital executives on Monday accused Camden County freeholders of fear-mongering, saying the board is attacking Virtua's emergency response times to clear the way for rival Cooper University Hospital to take over as the county's emergency response provider. Philly.com
Look Back at how Resorts entertained A.C.’s early casino crowds–The opening of Resorts International Casino Hotel on May 26, 1978, marked the dawn of a new era in Atlantic City entertainment. Press of Atlantic City
Cape May County veterans vow to rally until there’s a change–MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — About a dozen veterans gathered Tuesday morning in a vacant lot at the busy intersection of Routes 9 and 47 in Rio Grande with a simple message. Press of Atlantic City