Trains
Nor’Easter Nick displayed his surprisingly extensive railroad knowledge yesterday (that link is to a well-worth-watching video) in pointed questioning of NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett, in town to do damage control since they’re shutting the AC to Philly line for the next however many months. Corbett says the trains will be back in the New Year, but Nick points out that the executive director has also said that NJTransit is unlikely to complete the work needed by that date. Nick asks good questions and gets a lot of not-very-helpful responses. You can sign the petition that Nick organized and read Lynda Cohen on the scene at the Atlantic City rail station yesterday morning.
Go Fishing
Glory Days has a great feature on Mainland High School’s fishing club, which you should read because it’s a feel-good summer read, but also because it is a lesson in community organizing. Here’s Mainland teacher Brian Katz describing it: “The best part about the club is, if you’re in the Spanish Club and graduate, you’re out of that club. But these kids stay involved after they graduate.”
Boardwalk
Margate has a boardwalk committee now, and they’re planning a rally (in support of the city). The Press of Atlantic City has the details.
For all the other headlines from the region, see below:
Bishop pens letter to South Jersey Catholics condemning “treasonous sins” by church leadership–People across the pews at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church fidgeted uncomfortably during Mass on Sunday, while others looked stoically at the priest while he read a letter from Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan condemning “treasonous sins” against the church’s teachings. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Egg Harbor Township Can’t Find Enough Class III Officers For Schools–In response to school shootings like those of Newtown, Connecticut and, more recently, Parkland, Florida, the township set aside funds to hire seven Class III officers — one for each of its schools — in an effort to thwart tragedy. Come September, however, the township’s schools will have just one Class III officer, a setback officials say is circumstantial rather than from lack of trying. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Margate Boardwalk Committee Plans Rally Celebrating City–Glenn Klotz can see it now. A boardwalk — the way it used to be — the final piece of a seven-mile span that connects three cities in Atlantic City, Ventnor, and finally, Margate, like it did more than 60 years ago. Now, he just has to convince his neighbors to see it too. www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Mays Landing Man Who Admitted Killing Good Samaritan Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison–A Mays Landing man who admitted to fatally punching a man who tried to stop him from hitting his girlfriend was sentenced to 13 years in prison Friday, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner announced Monday. Calvin Wiggins, 24, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of 55-year-old John Charlton, who was heralded as a good Samaritan for coming to the woman’s aid. breakingac.com
Atlantic City Graduate Now Advertisement For College Program–Elijah Kelsey was the first in his family to go to college. The Give Something Back scholarship he received made it possible for the Atlantic City teen to attend Rowan College at Gloucester County. breakingac.com
Gretchen Carlson Under New Fire For ‘Reckless’ Miss America Statements–The turmoil engulfing the nearly century-old Miss America pageant intensified Monday as Board chair Gretchen Carlson came under new fire for a statement blaming the reigning Miss America for the loss of $75,000 in scholarship money. “More reckless speech on behalf of the Miss America Organization,” actor, activist and Miss America 1998 Kate Shindle tweeted early Monday. www.philly.com
Margate Warms Up To Mini-Golf ‘Monstrosity’–Video games and movies used to be the go-to activity on gloomy days in Margate. That might be changing, some say, with Margate’s newest (and controversial) miniature golf course. www.philly.com