As the Associated Press reported last night after Atlantic City's city council unanimously passed a bill to curb smoking inside the casinos - effective Oct. 15 - this is an important time in the history of the casinos, which celebrate their 30th anniversary in Atlantic City this year.
Before the walk began, the McDonnell family, some of members of the Patti McWalk Committee and media partners, gathered for the Atlantic City Weekly cameras in front of Lucy. First Row: Jackson T. Chase (Kool 98.3), Lyndsey McDonnell, Ro McDonnell, Lisa Marinelli, Marlene Aqua (Kool) & Meg Perez. Second Row: Jim Craine (MC), Bob McDonnell, Joe Ricci (Kool) & Riana Milne (Kool), Scott Stevens (The Shark). Third Row: Bob Adams, John, Tara Adams, Kevin McDonnell, and Missy Adams.
(Photo by Lew Steiner).
Bob and Row McDonnell along with friends and relatives have been celebrating the memory of their sister Patti with this fundraiser which is the number one fundraiser for the South Jersey Cancer Fund.
Hundreds of participants met at Lucy the Elephant. Joe Ricci introduced Bob McDonnell who thanked all those in attendance. Joe MCNally of the S.J. Cancer Fund told how the organization helps people with Cancer in many ways. Also on stage was Dr. Larry Naame of Atlantic Care. Jim Craine sang the Star Spangled Banner and everyone hit the beach, dressed in green Patti McWalk shirts. Congressman Frank LoBiondo was there with his two dogs in support of this local event.
After taking a walk to the Margate Pier and back the group went to Maynard’s Café in Margate where they enjoyed food provided by Steve Troiano and Buddy McCabe. The late owner of Maynard’s Al Troiano helped the Patti McWalk when it began 7 years ago. He was a strong supporter of the South Jersey Cancer Fund and Patti’s smile was often seen at Maynard’s.
The Fine Living television network has named Atlantic City’s Boardwalk as one of the top five ’walks in the nation. Atlantic City was third on the list, after Santa Cruz Beach, Cal. and Virginia Beach, Va. Ocean City, NJ 's boardwalk also made the list, coming in right behind AC at #4. The complete list is online here .
The Borgata's new 43-story, $400 million hotel tower, dubbed The Water Club, isn't opening until later this year, but you can take a virtual tour of the amazing looking facility at the new Water Club Web site.
In other related recent developments, it was announced last week that Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, of the acclaimed Country and Town restaurants in New York City, has been hired to oversee all food and beverage hospitality for the spa, pool, special events and in-room dining at The Water Club.
The Water Club is slated to open in Summer 2008.
The City of Atlantic City should be deliberate in its on-going discussions about how to sell the Bader Field property and to whom. The recent offer from casino and racetrack operator Penn National Gaming Inc. for $800 million sounds like an attempt to push the city into going for the first offer on the table. Penn National is in the middle of being sold, which could make for an unstable situation. Of course the offer sounded good, especially the $50 million to give the city property tax relief for the coming property reassessment on local residents.
This AP article details yesterday's Casino Control Commission approval regarding Donald Trump's 26-year-old daughter, Ivanka, joining the board of directors of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Pictured: Ivanka Trump (right) with Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Mark Juliano and his wife Jacqueline at the Taj last October.
This news release, pertaining to MGM Mirage's grand Atlantic City plans, appeared on CNNMoney.com this morning. Basically, the company has taken steps to apply for the necessary CAFRA permit, "one of the first requirements of all major New Jersey coastal area developments."
A press release from yesterday states that "Dante Hall Theatre of the Arts Announces New Board Members and Officers .... At its first meeting of the new year, the Dante Hall Board of Trustees elected two new members. Mr. Gary Hill, a resident of Atlantic City, and Mr. Pinky Kravitz, also of Atlantic City were elected to one-year terms. At that same meeting, the Board also elected Officers to serve one-year terms, beginning immediately. Elected as President was Mr. Richard J. Grzywinski of Galloway Township, Ms. Kim Butler of Atlantic City was re-elected as Vice-President, Mr. John F. Mirenda of Marmora was re-elected Secretary, and Ms. Peggy Sykes of Atlantic City, was named Treasurer. Both Grzywinski and Sykes previously served as Board members."
Since opening in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City in 2003, Dante Hall has offered a diverse assortment of alternative entertainment to the casino showrooms, hosting everything from local artist showcases and plays to national jazz, opera and dance acts. Next week, the 2007 winner of the the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Literary Artist Fellowship in Playwriting, Jewel Seehaus-Fisher, will have a reading of her play Fanny and Walt at there (Jan. 18, 7pm). The reading will be directed by Gayle Stahlhuth, Artistic Director of The East Lynne Theater Company.
You can check out this week’s AC Weekly, published tomorrow (Dec. 27) to see our “year in review” for the Atlantic City region. It’s interesting how Atlantic City still occasionally takes a hit for being Las Vegas’ weak little seaside sister. On a positive note, the numerous on-going casino/hotel room expansions, new casinos ready to break ground and discussion of the Bader field property generated plenty of positive press nationally in the business sector. Our outstanding dining and shopping options, as they continue to expand, have also been well documented in the New York Times and other major publications. The city has continued to prove that younger people are coming here for a night on the town or a weekend getaway, helping to dispel the notion that AC is a town that only caters to bus tripping seniors.
Just in case you missed the implosion of the Sands Casino a few Thursdays back, here is some stunning video of the historic Atlantic City event, shot by AC Weekly publisher Lew Steiner.
The Sands, which was imploded a bit after 9:30pm on Thursday, Oct. 18, was taken down to make room for a new $2 billion casino resort projected to open in 2011 courtesy of Pinnacle Entertainment.
Wednesday night, the 52 members of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee selected three possible candidates for position of Interim Mayor. They are AC Business Administrator, Dominic Capella; Democratic Committee Chairman, Battalion Fire Chief, Scott Evans and former Atlantic City Council Woman, Barbara Hudgins.
At the start of the meeting these three names were put up for a vote. Councilman Marty Small made a motion to add more names, but his motion was rejected by Evans. The Committed voted on the three names.
After the vote, a second motion was made to reconsider the first vote but it failed and the three names will be submitted to the Atlantic City Council. It will be up to City Council to select an Interim Mayor by November 9th from the three choices. The interim Mayor will serve until a new Mayor is elected in November of 2008.
If the AC City Council does not select one of the three proposed candidates, a special election could be held within 45 days.
Bob Levy is a good man who made some dumb mistakes. I'm glad the mayor of Atlantic City resigned rather than continue to be a political football tossed around by more adept politicians who threw him under the bus to further their political ambitions. I don't know why Levy, who served his country in Vietnam, felt the need to embellish his record by claiming to be a Green Beret. I prefer to remember that he did serve in Vietnam. Hopefully Levy will now enjoy his life out of the spotlight.
All these stories about his "mysterious" disappearance seemed blown out of proportion. Considering the previous crooks that have been elected mayor of Atlantic City, Levy's transgressions were minor. Still, it has become clear he was never cut out to be a politician.
(Levy is pictured in sunglasses at right, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last May)
First there was yesterday's news that MGM Mirage is looking to bring a City Center type project to Atlantic City. Now, according to the Newark Star-Ledger, comes news that The Cordish Co., which operates the Atlantic City Outlets at The Walk, is considering entering into the casino biz in Atlantic City. The article says that Cordish is looking into possibly purchasing some Trump Resorts property in Atlantic City. Although neither Trump nor Cordish officials have commented publicly on the rumor, it's an interesting development considering that Trump Plaza, one of three Trump casinos in town, is located right in front of The Walk.
Two bits of big news announced yesterday relating to the future development of Atlantic City.
First, in the immediate future, it has been decided that Steel Pier, which was slated to close for good at the end of last year's summer season, will remain open for another year.
"We will be able to offer good, clean family entertainment again in 2008," said Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Mark Juliano. Trump owns the historic Steel Pier, which opened in 1898.
Elsewhere in the resort town, Revel Entertainment Group has released plans for their new casino endeavor, which is proposed to be the tallest casino in town.
The project should be ready by 2011, and is to be built on 20 acres just north of the Showboat Casino-Hotel.
Local authorities are still trying to determine if an abandoned Dodge Intrepid that was parked near Bally’s yesterday afternoon was a bomb hoax or a legitimate threat. The A.C. Bomb Squad was called in after it was discovered that the car had a red wire suspiciously running in and out of the car, which reportedly had no license plates and smelled of gasoline. You can watch NBC-40’s coverage here.
While doing research on area fireworks for the holiday, I came across this delightful Web site that lets you put on your on fireworks show over Cape May. Check it out.
I
t has become a lot harder to root for our hometown baseball team, the Atlantic City Surf, after the abrupt firings last Friday of public relations director Chuck Betson and assistant GM Jeff Ball. Betson was with the team since the beginning in 1998. Ball, with six years of service, managed the team for three years and has the best record of any Surf manager. Both deserved better.
In close proximity to the area of the Pine Barrens where last month's wildfire started — scorching over 17,000 acres of forest in Burlington and Ocean counties — opened Pitch Pine cones have been displaying brilliant flame-red colors. AC Weekly's very own Bill Beck snapped this shot a week ago just south of Warren Grove. More pics here.
Please help my friend Sally. She has 12 cats and she needs to find homes for her latest litter of five. 
She has four male kittens 2 black, 2 grey and white tabbies, and one female grey and white tabby. They are all healthy and adorable, about 11 weeks old. 
Pictured are Spunky(left), Sawyer (black, below), Nosy (right) and wrestling, Kate and Sparky. And yes, I am a fan of Lost. You can contact Sally at 609-646-7545 weekdays after 4pm.
With next Friday (June 1) being the official start date of the 2007 hurricane season, Courier Post writer Jeanne Ridgway reports on summer plans for a test evacuation of the AC Expressway, announced yesterday by area emergency officials. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an "above normal" 2007 Atlantic hurricane season.
Alley Cat Allies is a national organization that promotes Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the only humane, effective method to reduce the feral cat population. The organization is looking for volunteers to help with an Atlantic City event. Alley Cat Allies and Dr. Suzanna Brown/Best Friends Veterinary Hospital of Mays Landing will be hosting a Feline Frenzy! to spay or neuter and vaccinate at least sixty cats from Atlantic City. Volunteers are needed to humanely trap the cats, transport them to the clinic and return them to their habitat after surgery. As a cat lover and Animal Planet junkie, I've signed up and am looking forward to helping the lives of these cats. Please join me. The cat pictured above is a content kitty from the AC boardwalk program.
ACA, based in Bethesda, MD, has managed a successful TNR program on the Atlantic City boardwalk for six years, but this event will expand their efforts to other parts of the city. Volunteers are needed from Friday, June 8 to Monday, June 11. Exact location and times will be assigned based on skills and availability of volunteers. To volunteer, call 1-866-309-6207 or E-mail alleycat@alleycat.org. For more info on ACA, visit their Web site
Do you have what it takes to be a member of the living dead?
Pat & Dan Productions are casting for their zombie film that they are shooting in May of this year. They are holding an open casting call Saturday and Sunday, April 21–22, 1–6pm at My Film Café, 32 Marmora Rd. (32 Tuckahoe Rd.), Wayside Village Shopping Center, Marmora. The production company is looking for 50 people to play zombies as extras. Pictured are the zombies from the very funny 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.
Steak 38 at 3700 Brigantine Blvd in Brigantine, is having a fundraiser for their bartender (and former local 54 official) James "Humphrey" Allen on Monday, April 2nd in the bar from 7pm to 11pm. He suffered a stroke last week. All bar proceeds will go to Humphry. For additional info on the event call 609 266-4400.
Breaking News: Atlantic City received some props from Manhattan over the past 24 hours. First Alec Baldwin's character on the NBC comedy 30 Rock suggests a late night trip to the Borgata on last night's episode. Then, in this morning's New York Sun, columnist Alicia Colon writes (from her room at the Borgata) on "Atlantic City Reborn." "Spending a day or two in deluxe accommodations away from the hustle and bustle of the city can recharge one's batteries," Colon writes. "Try it. You'll like it." By the end of the year, Colon and her fellow New Yorkers should be able to take a direct train from NYC to AC.
Perhaps it was too good to be true. Atlantic City had been in a good news cycle for months. The news of hotel room expansions, new casinos in development, the speculation about a blockbuster deal between The Donald and Steve Wynn were recent news flashes. Overall the current revitalization of Atlantic City, with more high end dining and shopping including the Walk, the Quarter at the Trop and the Pier at Caesars, had led to numerous stories, including glowing reports in the Washington Post and New York Times about “the new Atlantic City.”
Then along comes the discovery of the bodies of four women behind the rundown motels on the north side the Black Horse Pike in that little finger of Egg Harbor Township known as West Atlantic City.
In a completely unscientific poll, I asked my colleagues who voted today, how the turnout was at their polling places. One person replied, “Voted for what?” and another admitted she had forgotten all about it. Most of the AC Weekly staffers who had voted said it was slow, despite either voting at the usually busy pre-work hour, 7-8am, or at lunchtime. Of course it might be a South Jersey Shore thing, with our smaller population. A colleague who lives in Gloucester County (Woodbury) said his polling place was busy.
If you haven’t yet done so, please vote this evening. There is plenty of time left.
Tomorrow is Election Day and while it may not be for the president, you should still go out and vote. I remember the pride I felt when I voted for the first time back in 1972. Some people get so turned off by the negative campaign ads, they don't vote. However, as AC Weekly editor Mike Epifanio noted in his excellent editorial in last week's issue, "If we don't take the time to educate ourselves about the candidates running for office, then the people who create their campaign ads are the ones who end up running our government." http://www.acweekly.com/view.php?id=5447&issue_id=152
Despite the fact that terrorists threatened to shoot voters, an estimated 57% of eligible Iraqi voters went to the polls in 2005. We don't have that excuse. Even if you have to get up earlier, drag your butt out of bed and vote before you go to work, or get your required sleep and vote after work.
This is a government of the people, but not if you don't bother to vote!
Later
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