Rusty Bikes
Got a bike that’s suffering from rust because of the tough Absecon Island climate? We spoke to the owner of AAAA Bike Shop in Ventnor, Mike Wiesen, about how to protect your bike from rust or clean up an already-rusty one. Also – read Nanette LoBiondo of Downbeach Pilot on AAAA Bike Shop’s 40th anniversary.
Offshore Wind
State plans for offshore wind development in New Jersey look good, but at a public hearing yesterday officials urged the administration to “hurry up”, NJ Spotlight reported. Separately, offshore wind co Orsted recently opened its new Atlantic City headquarters.
NJ Gun Crime
Most of the guns used to commit crimes in New Jersey come from out of state, according to a new report. NJ Spotlight says Gov. Phil Murphy is trying to shine a spotlight on gun crime in New Jersey. Looking at the data locally, Atlantic County is middle-of-the-road for gun recoveries. I’d love to see these numbers reported on a per-100,000 inhabitants basis though. You can find the links to the original reports by the NJ State Police here.
Elsewhere, Margate firefighter Dave Funk lost his appeals to overturn his 2016 shoplifting conviction and the ruling that cost him his job, actor Mark Wahlberg was in AC for dinner with the owners of the casino formerly known as Revel (as an aside, get over to the restaurant they visited – Girasole, in the Ocean Club – when you can. Food is great and they have an amazing two-course $15 lunch prix fixe menu) and finally we are inching closer to an economic incentive zone around the Atlantic City airport.
For everything else, see below:
Cleanup Helps Rid Egg Harbor City Of Litter–Scores of volunteers from local churches, schools, civic groups, sports organizations and Scout troops gathered Saturday at the fire hall to pick up trash bags, recycling bags, gloves, litter grabbers and free Atlantic County Utilities Authority T-shirts before removing trash and recyclables from city streets as part of the 11th annual City-Wide Clean Up. www.shorenewstoday.com
Special Planning Board Meeting To Address Bulkhead Replacement–A special Planning Board meeting being held 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 will address replacement of bulkheads along the back bay area. downbeachpilot.com
Communities Try To Escape The Plastic Bag Trap–The single-use plastic shopping bag is creating pollution problems that harm marine life, because of the huge number thrown away every day, some becoming litter that ends up in waterways. A few communities have moved to either ban plastic bags, which are used on average for 15 minutes before they are tossed, or charge shoppers extra for them. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Atlantic County Prosecutor To Host Talk On Police Shootings–The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s and state Attorney General’s offices will host a discussion May 17 about use of force and shootings involving officers, according to a post on the Prosecutor’s Office’s Facebook page. The discussion will be held in the Atlantic City High School auditorium, 1400 N. Albany Ave., from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Economic Growth At Atlantic City Airport Taking Off–Legislation is taking off to create an economic growth zone around the Atlantic City International Airport, after a similar effort was scuttled under former Gov. Chris Christie. The bill, which cleared the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee on Monday by an 8-1 vote, would implement a Garden State Growth Zone around the airport. www.njbiz.com
A Camden Kid Lived The Story, And A Philly Author Wrote The Book–Luis C. Gaitan grew up in East Camden knowing of few — if any — books about kids like him. Or neighborhoods like his. www.philly.com
Money For Martin Luther King House In Camden Diverted To City Fire Department, Lawyer Says. City Is Silent On Why.–A $229,000 grant earmarked to save a rundown Camden home where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived as a young seminary student in 1950 was somehow diverted to the Fire Department, city officials say. The misdirected money came to light when an activist who has been fighting to save the home in the Bergen Square neighborhood filed a public records request. www.philly.com
‘Hate Group’ Leader Denies Misspending $5.3 Million In Church Donations, Pleads Not Guilty To Tax Evasion–Jermaine Grant of Burlington Township, chief high priest of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ in Harlem, used $5.3 million in church donations to fund an extravagant lifestyle and failed to pay taxes on the money, federal prosecutors say. For more than eight years, beginning in 2007, they said, Grant used church money to pay for expensive vacations, luxury cars, and homes in exclusive locations across the country. www.philly.com
NJ Gov: 77 Percent Of Crime Guns From Out Of State–More than three-quarters of the guns used in crimes in New Jersey over the first quarter of the year came from outside its borders, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday. Murphy unveiled the data, which he called for under an executive order he signed in April, alongside the father of a Parkland, Florida, high school student who was slain in this year's fatal gun attack. www.philly.com
Philadelphia Man Arrested In Atlantic City Knife Attack–A Philadelphia man was arrested Monday after he allegedly slashed a man with a knife during an altercation. Officers were called to Sovereign and Atlantic avenues at 5:36 p.m. for the report of a man cut on the hand, Sgt. Kevin Fair said. breakingac.com
Police Seek Help In Finding Missing Ventnor Woman–A Ventnor woman has been missing since April 19. New Jersey State Police are asking for the public's help in finding Allie Woodland, 32. breakingac.com
Atlantic County Man Admits To Leading Drug-Trafficking Network–A 38-year-old man admitted to leading a drug-trafficking network Monday in a case the Atlantic County prosecutor said epitomized intra-agency cooperation. More than 80 bricks of heroin and fentanyl were seized after four searches that spanned Brigantine, Linwood and Egg Harbor Township. breakingac.com
Structure Fire In Egg Harbor Township–Firefighters extinguished a structure fire in Egg Harbor Township late Monday afternoon. Bargaintown and Cardiff fire companies were dispatched at 3:35 p.m. to a fire at 5017 Fernwood Avenue. breakingac.com
Atlantic City Police Get Two New Deputy Chiefs And Six New Captains–Atlantic City promoted eight officers Tuesday. The promotions included filling vacant deputy chief positions. breakingac.com