Powwow
Our intern Scott Yunker went to visit to the Salem County Fairgrounds the other week for the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation’s 38th annual powwow. Read his piece here – it’s another great look at a piece of history and culture in South Jersey that tends to get forgotten beneath the superficial layer of Wawas and casinos.
A Bog Asphodel, via @the_pine_baron on Instagram.
Opioids
One of the criticisms of Governor Chris Christie’s addiction-prevention crusade this year is that his administration hasn’t done a whole lot to address one of the sources of the problem: the pharmaceutical industry. Now, however, the Record has learned that New Jersey has joined a multi-state probe into Big Pharma for its role in the opioid crisis. Separately, NJ’s Attorney General’s office has issued a subpoena to New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson related to opioid marketing practices at its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
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Dunes
Dune construction is starting at the shore and people are ranting, writes Amy Rosenberg for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The pipes have arrived and work is set to begin imminently in Ventnor, ending in early August, at which point work will start in Margate.
PierAC update: Since we wrote about how there was nothing going on at Bart Blatstein’s pier at the far end of the boardwalk, closer to Showboat, a website for the pier has been launched. It says it’s “Atlantic City’s newest destination for social gatherings, special events and water activities.” Blatstein’s other pier will host food trucks (AC’s favorite controversy) and the AC Surf School, plus live music (and we checked, there are some artists booked in July…. so maybe they will get around to clearing the ivy from the railings outside the property by then.)
In the rest of the day’s news, NJSpotlight takes a look at the pre-k expansion included in the current school-funding proposal (it would add pre-k for 2,500 kids), but the state’s budget stalemate is threatening $4 billion in transportation projects, lawmakers could legalize New Jersey firework sales, and there’s a new warning about the danger of exposure to the prescription opioid Fentanyl that’s worrying South Jersey police. All that and more below:
NJ DEP Awards Contract for Longport Point Revetment–The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Coastal Engineering has awarded a $3 million contract for a long awaited revetment project at Longport Point. The project is expected to begin within two weeks, borough engineer Richard Carter said at the Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, June 21. Shore News Today
$1 Family-Friendly Movies at Regal Hamilton Commons Stadium this Summer–Going to the movies is a lot less expensive, at least for nine weeks this summer, with the return of Regal Entertainment Group's "Summer Movie Express." Families can enjoy $1 movies during select matinee screenings at Regal Hamilton Commons Stadium 14, located at 4215 Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing. Press of Atlantic City
Stockton Calls on Volunteers for Summer Brain Study–Stockton University researchers want to look inside your brain — for science, of course. A research project called The Relationship Between Brain Activity and Cognitive Reserve, led by Jessica Fleck, associate professor of psychology, will explore which lifestyle factors have the most impact on the degree of connectivity among different regions of the brain. Press of Atlantic City
Pleasantville Man Charged in Wounding Four in Expressway Shooting–A Pleasantville man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder in a shootout between two cars on the Atlantic City Expressway last year. Devan Leggette, 21, was allegedly driving a black Dodge Ram pickup truck, and was exchanging gunfire with a white Ford Expedition. BreakingAC
Three Men Indicted in Deadly AC Expressway Shootout–Three men were indicted on weapons charges Wednesday in a deadly shootout on the Atlantic City Expressway that reportedly started at the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse. Yahshaun Stukes-Williams and Rosemund Octavius both had hearings August 29, in separate courtrooms inside the Mays Landing courthouse. BreakingAC
NJ Investigating Drug Makers in Multi-State Painkiller Probe–As Governor Chris Christie openly pushes his agenda focusing on treatment and prevention of opioid abuse, his administration is quietly expanding the effort to the legal front. The state Attorney General's Office has joined a multi-state investigation of the pharmaceutical industry for its potential role in the opioid crisis that has swept the state and the country, The Record has learned. North Jersey