Air Marshal Training
Did you know that a new round of U.S. Air Marshal recruits (the first since 2011!) are training right here in Atlantic County? It was news to us too, but The Washington Post has a neat behind-the-scenes look at what the training program entails and the special set-up at the William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center where it all happens.
Online High-School Chemistry
Atlantic City doesn’t have a high-school chemistry teacher, so kids are learning online, Diane D’Amico writes for The Press of Atlantic City. The piece talks to students, who on the whole aren’t very impressed with the lack of a teacher, and looks at the reasons why the school hasn’t been able to find a teacher (it’s still looking). Science and math teachers state-wide are in short supply – but it seems like luring them to Atlantic City has been a particularly tough sell and no one has any good solutions. Applicants were offered the job and backed out, Assistant Superintendent Sherry Yahn explained to the school board.
It’s going to feel like spring this week! Thanks to @leannwnuk for this photo.
In the rest of the headlines from Friday and the weekend, a baby seal was rescued off of Cape May with help from Brigantine’s Marine Mammal Stranding Center, $400 million in NJ roadwork money won’t mean much for South Jersey, Oakcrest grad Cody Stashak is pitching his way up the Minnesota Twins’ system, and, if you’re procrastinating in the office, you could check out these pictures from the Ocean City Doo-Dah parade. All that and more below:
Volunteers Hand Out Hundreds of Easter Baskets in Atlantic City–Volunteers in Atlantic City gave hundreds of Easter baskets to children Saturday in front of St. Nicholas of Tolentine Roman Catholic Church. Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic City Mayor Five Months Into State Takeover: ‘It Is What It Is.’–Amidst all of the celebration over this week's announced plans for Atlantic City's newest casino hotel, the Hard Rock, loomed continuing concerns that the state of New Jersey still has legal control over the town's government. philadelphia.cbslocal.com
Absecon Council Drops Tax Rate by a Penny–Bucking the local trend of hiking taxes, Absecon City Council passed a budget that drops the municipal tax rate one cent per $100 of assessed value during its April 6 meeting. The drop means an owner of a $100,000 house will pay $10 less in taxes in 2017. Shore News Today
Here\’s Why High School Guys in Atlantic County Wear Ties Each Friday–Darrell Edmonds, founder of Friday is Tie Day, is inspired by his father, who taught him how to tie a tie. Now he's passing those tips on to more than 60 local high schoolers through his non-profit, which also helps prepare students for life after graduation, and beyond their own town’s borders. www.snjtoday.com
Former AC Teen Now Mentors Middle Schoolers–Natalie Devonish is only trying to do for Atlantic City's young people what was done for her. Devonish, 33, was not always the composed young woman she is today — a hometown hero and Boys & Girls Club executive who has served for seven years as president of Youth Exposure, an enrichment and mentoring program for the city’s middle school students. Press of Atlantic City
New AC Library Computer Lab Unveiled Thursday–The Atlantic City Free Public Library holds a ceremony to unveil its new computer lab at noon Thursday at the library on North Tennessee Avenue. Mayor Don Guardian and Councilman Kaleem Shabazz will be among the guest speakers during the ceremony that the public is invited to attend. Press of Atlantic City
South Jersey Nonprofits Now Eligible for State Grants to Beef up Security–New Jersey is helping nonprofits apply for grants to beef up security in its southern counties, following a rash of bomb threats against Jewish institutions earlier this year. Newsworks.org
With Rainbow of Colors, Brigantine Resident Builds Beauty Empire in South Jersey–Melissa Roller enrolled in cosmetology school to turn her love of colors and tools into a career - but when the right tools and palettes weren’t available to her, she decided to do something about it. Now, the 24-year-old from Brigantine is running her own business that can be recognized by its glitter and cursive letters that spell “Alluring.” Press of Atlantic City
Iconic Atlantic City Acting School Weist-Barron-Ryan Leaves Resort–After 35 years in the same location, an award-winning acting school now has a new home. The Weist-Barron-Ryan Acting School had been located on Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City for more than 35 years, but after the building was recently sold, school operators lost their lease and were forced to find a new location. www.snjtoday.com
Christie wants 800 psychiatric beds in N.J.; Vitale says he may get 150–The ambitious call for 864 new psychiatric treatment beds in New Jersey by Gov. Chris Christie during his budget address in February may fall flat. Despite the invitation from the New Jersey Department of Health for Certificate of Need applicants to fill the demand seen predominantly in Central and Southern Jersey, state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) said the actual number of increased beds the state sees may be closer to 150. NJBIZ
New South Jersey Suicide Prevention Program Wants To Get People Talking–A suicide prevention program, jointly developed by a South Jersey social service organization and law enforcement, aims to get the community talking about anxiety and depression among young people, and to offer solutions. Its development was prompted by alarm over the rise in suicide among middle schoolers. philadelphia.cbslocal.com