Clams, by Crystal (@memorieslostintime on Instagram)
Paint Factory Cancer Suit
A federal class-action lawsuit alleges that several Camden-county residents developed cancer and other illnesses due to contamination from the Sherwin-William paint plant at Gibbsboro. The plant used toxic chemicals including lead, benzene and arsenic at several sites between 1930 and 1978, according to the suit. Joe Hernandez has the details for Newsworks.
South Jersey Trolls
The Burlington County town of Beverly is home to the most active internet commentators in the United States, according to WIRED magazine (read their piece mapping internet trolls here). Beverly, with a population of 2,513, has 114 residents who made – on average – 1,317 comments each over a 16-month period. They weren’t terribly ‘toxic’ comments, though, according to WIRED, which found that Vermont is home to some of the most toxic online commenters.
Opioid Abuse Treatment
For every one fatal overdose, researchers estimate there are about 30 non-fatal overdoses, but public health officials and others are missing opportunities to intervene and redirect non-fatal overdose cases into treatment, according to a new study in Pennsylvania. (Read the full study here, read the Route Fifty rundown here).
In the rest of the day’s news, Senator Cory Booker has more support for his legislation to end the federal ban on marijuana, NJ is the center of the food universe (with brief mention of AC and Cape May), Ben Harper has some nice things to say about Atlantic City ahead of his gig here this weekend, Atlantic City Weekly picks AC’s best dive bars, and (leaving Avalon beach homes for the wealthy) some people prefer camping. All that and more below:
Rowan University Cuts Ribbon on $400 Million Redevelopment Project–State and local officials, as well as executives with Rowan University, joined Nexus Properties personnel at the Town Square gathering space in Glassboro on Wednesday, August 23rd, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the new A3 Development. The newly completed project is the largest phase of the $400 million Rowan Boulevard Redevelopment Initiative, which officials say will better the community for years to come. www.snjtoday.com
LETTER: NJEA Obsession With Sweeney is Misguided–The New Jersey Education Association union leadership in Trenton does not speak for every teacher, and they do not speak for me and many teachers I know in South Jersey. Their obsession with Senator Steve Sweeney is downright bizarre, especially considering that it was Sweeney, more than any other person, who championed the issue of school funding and successfully secured millions in additional state aid for districts throughout the state – especially in South Jersey. Courier-Post
Egg Harbor Township Outdoor Concert Series Affected by Construction of Amphitheater Cover–The Egg Harbor Township Parks and Recreation’s annual Rhythm in the Park concert series, which is traditionally held outdoors at the amphitheater at Tony Canale Park, will conclude with an indoor concert on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Community Center. The concert season was affected by delays in the installation of a cover to the existing stage, causing some concerts to be rescheduled or relocated. Shore News Today
South Jersey Tapping into Craft Beverage Tourism–Before 2013, only a handful of craft breweries operated in South Jersey — and no distilleries. Then, the state changed the law, and the craft-beverage tourism industry has been on the rise since. Press of Atlantic City
South Jersey Mourns the Loss of James Whelan–South Jersey is mourning the loss of a beloved state senator and hero to many in the Atlantic City area. www.snjtoday.com