Crew
Guy Gargan at the Press has a nice story on the fundraiser for Stockton’s crew program where they honored rowing coach Stan Bergman and announced the Alton and Endicott families will provide funds for two new boats, which cost about $40,000 a piece, the Press reports.
Some of you may know Elinor is an accomplished rower but she is English and they do not buy their boats. Instead, young rowers are required to steal them, in the traditional naval fashion, in daring midnight raids against the French and Spanish coasts. (Ed – this is not true. I did do this, however, and I think it would be awesome to see bumps racing on the bay.)
The Business Community
NJTV has an interview with Tom Bracken, who is on the board of NJTV and also heads New Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce, who says the business community has been, “ignored, taken for granted, taxed at an increasing rate, overly-mandated and vilified without justification.” They got a several trillion-dollar federal tax cut, many billions in state tax subsidies and we are the wealthiest society in human history, but they have to talk like this or you’ll forget we live on different planets.
For more feats of journalism…
Wood carvings, ceramics and lore: The Pinelands explored from indoors–GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — In a crowded room at Stockton University, Dave Phillips sat in complete concentration, chisel in hand and carving eyes, a nose, and a mouth into a small log. He was making a wood spirit, which, according to legend, lives inside timber and helps guard forests from evil. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Huge crowds, outrageous costumes welcome Atlantic City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade–Thousands of revelers lined the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk Saturday afternoon, hoping the luck of the Irish would shine on them as they celebrated the city's 33rd annual St. Patrick's Day parade. expo.nj.com
Josie Kelly’s ready for first St. Patrick’s Day–SOMERS POINT – If it seems like every day is St. Patrick’s Day at Josie Kelly’s Public House, then what of the Real McCoy on March 17? “No pressure,” proprietor Kathleen (with husband Dermot) Lloyd said with a laugh. “We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing.” www.downbeach.com
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: CHATHAM, LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM, WILL TRY TO LIMIT KYLEE WATSON IN THE POST–Playing against the Mainland girls basketball team is the ultimate decision of pick your poison: you can double up on guarding 6-foot-4 junior forward Kylee Watson in the low post, but then you have to deal with the Mustangs’ prolific 3-point shooting of Claudia Mairone, Madi Hafetz and Taylor Dalzell. If you extend the defense and leave Watson one-on-one in the blocks, well, there aren’t many players in the state of New Jersey who can match up in that scenario. glorydaysonline.com
Woman allegedly at center of Haven fight sues A.C. mayor for repayment of $5,000 loan–The woman said to be at the center of a nightclub fight involving Atlantic City’s mayor is now suing him for a $5,000 loan she says was never repaid. www.breakingac.com
The small business owner is increasingly taxed as larger powerful corporations with lobbyists get the lion-share of subsidies and benefits. To site the industry tax cuts and the country’s wealth in relation to the situation is akin to citing it for any American who might say they feel as though they’re being treated unfairly…”we live in the wealthiest nation on earth and most Americans pay little or no taxes”. The reality is the increase in taxes on businesses raises consumer costs, lowers employee wages and/or benefits, and, in some cases, causes the business to relocate outside of NJ. I have been on both sides of this metaphoric fence and neither side is right or wrong in perspective. The only constant is the government’s wastefulness and inability to create a sustainable business plan.