Stockton Bust Saga
Stockton University has formed a volunteer committee of faculty, administrators, students and instructors to “thoughtfully and objectively” curate an exhibit – and an eventual curriculum – that will discuss the university’s slave-owning namesake’s history and legacy. University President Harvey Kesselman said the debate about removing a bust of Richard Stockton from the library had been going on for several years, prior to its removal last week amid nationwide protests over controversial historical figures, reports Jacqueline Urgo for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “It has created the opportunity to engage in a discussion of the man, his role in American history, and how we might better remember him today,” Kesselman said.
Bader Field
Atlantic City received four responses from a request-for-proposals to purchase and redevelop the 143-acre former airstrip known as Bader Field, the Press of Atlantic City’s Erin Serpico reports. One of the bids was from the current owner of the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team (Frank Boulton, who is also a former owner of Bader Field’s Surf Stadium). Glenn Straub (owner of the casino formerly known as Revel) was another bidder with a proposal to revive the airstrip at Bader Field. Two other proposals came from companies in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
Algal Bloom
Remember last summer when there were days when it looked like there were Caribbean or Mediterranean waters off of South Jersey, because a blue-green algae was changing the water color? Now the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has a strategy for responding to Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB), reports Waldy Diez for the Press. The algae can produce toxins that are harmful to the health of people and animals and anyone who sees a bloom is encouraged to call a new hotline and check out the DEP’s new HAB website.
In the rest of the headlines from the last 24 hours, there are two storms forming in the Atlantic that could reach the coast, Christie called Texas lawmakers against Sandy aid “hypocrites”, Atlantic County Democrats will meet on Sept. 5 to name a replacement for state Senator Jim Whelan, Craig Coughlin is moving closer to winning out over Vincent Prieto in a battle for NJ’s Assembly Speaker, kids throwing rocks at cars on the AC Expressway around Winslow injured two people, and Costco is coming to Cherry Hill. All that and more below:
South Jersey Teens Provide Custom Body Armor To Police K9s–Before they start their senior year at St. Augustine Prep, Michael Rebbecchi and Devon Osgood spent their summer giving back. “What we did was raise money to buy Kevlar vests for police dogs and we’re presenting them to the Gloucester Township Police Department,” Rebbecchi explains. philadelphia.cbslocal.com
State Officials Announce Funding for Two Bridgeton Housing Initiatives–New Jersey State officials have announced that two housing initiatives in Bridgeton will be receiving additional funding. www.snjtoday.com
Somers Point Gas Line Rupture Forces Neighborhood To Evacuate Homes–The overpowering smell of gas filled the air Monday afternoon when a ruptured gas pipe forced Somers Point Fire Department to evacuate the homes in the 200 and 300 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue. Press of Atlantic City
TV Pilot ’48 Blocks’ Stars Atlantic City and its People–A year after two local women opened Little Rock Films and Studios in Ventnor, they have embarked on an ambitious effort to film a television series pilot that makes the city by the sea its star. “We were looking to do a fictional drama about Atlantic City in Atlantic City,” said Dina Engle, who plays journalist Ally Price in the series. Shore News Today
Man Fatally Shot in Atlantic City–A man was killed Sunday night in Atlantic City, police confirmed. Deshawn Dawkins, 27, was shot in the first block of South Virginia Avenue at about 9.15 pm, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said. BreakingAC
Prosecutor: Toddler in Car Seat Died While Mom High in Car–A New Jersey mom was high on drugs in her car and left her 2-year-old daughter unattended for hours in a car seat, where she fatally injured herself, prosecutors said. Deanna Joseph called 911 on Saturday night to report her child was unresponsive, NJ.com reported. Philly.com