SHORE LOCAL | Mainland | March 12, 2026

Ten years of Shore Local — What’s next?

From the editor

Ten years ago, the very first issue of Shore Local rolled off the press — a modest 28-page publication built on a big idea: create a newspaper dedicated to celebrating the people, places and events that make the Jersey Shore such a special place to live.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in a decade.

Those early days were a heavy lift. Every word, photo and advertisement was carefully gathered and placed. There was no staff, no departments and no roadmap. It was simply Bob and me — and one big dream.

We did it all ourselves.

We wrote the stories, edited the pages, took the photographs, sold the advertising, updated the website and posted to social media. There was plenty we didn’t know, but we learned quickly — although, sometimes the

hard way.

Our distribution strategy was simple: load up the old Honda minivan with stacks of newspapers and place them anywhere that would welcome them. We drove from town to town across the region, introducing people, both readers and businesses, to something new and hoping they would give it a chance.

Did we do everything perfectly? Not even close.

Like any startup, there were missteps and lessons learned. But every mistake became part of the process. We listened, adapted and kept moving forward. The community embraced us and we are forever grateful for the trust of our readers and advertisers.

Today, Shore Local has grown far beyond our wildest dreams. What started as a two-person operation is now supported by a talented and dedicated team of writers, editors,

photographers and delivery staff who help bring each issue to life. Their work, along with the support of our advertisers and readers, has allowed the publication to grow and evolve year after year.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are also looking ahead to what comes next. We continue to learn, grow and evolve in ways that best seve our community.

One thing Bob and I have always enjoyed when traveling is discovering the places that the locals recommend — the restaurants they swear by, the shops they love and the hidden spots where the sunsets are best. Locals always know where the real gems are.

That idea inspired our newest initiative.

Beginning in early April, Shore Local will introduce the Locals' Choice

the best of the best across the Jersey Shore.

After nominations, Locals' Choice will feature two rounds of online voting. The first round will invite readers to choose their favorite businesses, destinations and services across more than 80 categories. From there, the top picks will advance to a final round of online voting where the community will determine the winners.

Businesses that earn the top spot will receive a Locals' Choice plaque and storefront sticker, recognizing them as a local favorite.

The results will be compiled into a glossy summer guide highlighting the best places to eat, shop, visit and experience throughout the region — a resource designed for both locals and visitors alike.

We are also introducing an obituary section within Shore Local, offering families an affordable way to honor and share the legacy of their loved ones, both in print and online. This will be offered through funeral homes in the area. You may also reach out directly to us to share your loved one's information.

And looking ahead, home delivery may soon become another option for readers who want Shore Local to arrive directly in their mailbox each week. Stay tuned for more information to come.

Ten years ago, we set out to build something meaningful for our community. Thanks to the support of our readers, advertisers and contributors, that vision continues to grow.

And we’re just getting started.

& Love, Cindy

South Jersey residents see rising electric bills as Atlantic City Electric cites cold weather, market pressures

By Julia Train

Residents across South Jersey say their electric bills have surged in recent months, while utility officials point to colder weather, rising demand and national energy market pressures as the driving forces behind higher costs.

Earlier this month, Atlantic City Electric (ACE) announced it is reinforcing its commitment to address rising energy prices through its parent company Exelon and a new initiative called the “Exelon Promise.”

The program is described as “a comprehensive, customer-first strategy focused on delivering immediate customer relief, strong protections amid growing demand, and long-term solutions to address the root causes driving higher costs.”

Energy supply prices are rising nationwide due to a combination of growing electricity demand, limited supply and broader market dynamics, the company said. Utilities do not set supply prices, which are determined in regional energy markets.

Atlantic City Electric region President Andrew Hendry said about half of a typical residential electric bill reflects the cost of generating power at plants, with those prices set through

Publisher– Bob Fertsch (609) 334-1691 shorelocalads@gmail.com

Executive Editor - Cindy Christy Fertsch (609) 705-5323 shorelocalcindy@gmail.com

Publisher Assistant - Julia Train

Copy Editors - James FitzPatrick, Holly Fertsch, Julia Train

Advertising Sales - Meg Perry (609)425-5407 shorelocalmeg@gmail.com

Web Designer - Holly Martin, Digital Marketing - Liz Katz

Contributors – Scott Cronick, Tammy Thornton, Rich Baehrle, Sarah Fertsch, Steffen Klenk, Brian Cahill, Dave Weinberg, Doug Deutsch, Joe Martucci, Heidi Clayton, Eric Reich, Chuck Darrow, Alex Corson, Cat Pepe Delaney Crawford, Ursula Duffy, Robin Stoloff, Alanna Stoloff, Tynan Hand, Madison Russ

We'd like to extend our gratitude to the dozens of talented photographers that shared their work with us over the last ten years. We will continue to keep our region shining.

the regional PJM Interconnection electricity market, which serves 13 states.

“We — Atlantic City Electric — don't set those prices. We don't control them. We don't make a profit off them. We don't own generation. So we don't make a profit off higher generation prices,” Hendry said. “But unfortunately, we have to pass those through to our customers.”

Hendry said rising electricity

demand combined with limited generation supply has pushed prices higher in recent years, resulting in an average 20% increase in customer bills last year.

He said growing demand from sources such as data centers has contributed to the imbalance, while the portion of the bill ACE directly manages — known as the distribution or delivery charge — makes up about one-third of the typical bill and covers infrastructure such as poles, wires, transformers and line crews needed to deliver electricity to homes and businesses.

Among the measures included in the Exelon Promise initiative is a $4.5 million Customer relief Fund along with flexible payment options, energy efficiency programs and connections to assistance programs such as the Universal Service Fund and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The company said that in 2025 it helped more than 35,000 customers secure over $54.4 million in energy assistance, including more than $6.2 million in LIHEAP funding. More than $2.7 million from the Customer relief Fund has already been pledged

to assist nearly 6,000 South Jersey customers, with just over $1 million still available.

Hendry also cited unusually cold temperatures as a key factor behind higher bills as colder temperatures force heating systems to run longer and more frequently, which directly increases electricity usage.

“Customers are effectively dealing with a double whammy. They've got the supply costs that have increased significantly…Then we just had this major cold snap in January and February,” Hendry said. “January 2026, for example, was 21% colder than that 10-year average,” he said.

However, some residents say their bills have risen far beyond what they expected based on their household usage.

Natalie W., a resident of Egg Harbor Township, said her monthly electric bill has nearly tripled in the past year. She lives in a home just under 1,000 square feet.

“It's like you get away with under $100,” she said of her previous bills. “Where are we at now? We're probably at almost $300 a month.”

The ACE customer said she has been on disability since suffering an injury, and the rising costs have forced difficult financial decisions. She added that her income has remained unchanged since 2005, and noted her bill increased significantly after her meter was replaced with a Smart Meter.

“They told me, if you replace the meter, supposedly your bill will go down. Well, that didn't happen. If anything, they replaced my meter and it doubled,” she said. “I'm like, ‘Go back and put my old meter back on. Please. Whatever you're doing is costing me too much money.’”

Stephaney Snyder of Galloway Township said she has experienced even larger spikes.

Snyder lives in a roughly 1,175-square-foot home with two bedrooms and one bathroom. She said winter electric bills that once ranged from the low $200s to $300s have climbed dramatically, ranging from $500s to $700s.

Snyder keeps her heat set at 66 degrees and says her household uses minimal electricity.

“I don't have light features all over the place,” she said. “It's extremely weird. It doesn't make any sense.”

She also believes the increases began after the installation of a Smart Meter.

Despite contacting the utility, she said she has received few answers.

“They just say, ‘that's the rates,’” she said.

For Snyder, the rising costs have become overwhelming.

“I'm paying almost a second mortgage just for electricity, it's disgusting,” she said.

Hendry said customers who believe their meter is inaccurate can request a test.

“If a customer doesn't feel they're reading accurately, they have a right… to reach out to us and have us test the meter for free,” he said.

He also encouraged residents struggling with higher bills to explore available assistance programs, noting that an estimated 20% of eligible customers take advantage of the programs.

“We're genuinely really concerned around affordability issues that customers are facing right now,” Hendry said. “I just encourage customers to reach out to us if they're having trouble paying their bills.”

ACE encourages customers experiencing high bills to review their energy usage through online account tools, consider budget billing and explore assistance programs designed to help offset costs. More information is available at atlanticcityelectric. com/WaysToSave.

Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies.

In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @ juliatrain on Instagram.

A look back at a winter to remember

By Meteorologist Joe Martucci

Yes, it was a cold and snowy winter at the Jersey Shore, for real. Every month had at least one snowstorm, the biggest one being the Feb. 2223 nor’easter, which the National Weather Service officially classified as a blizzard on March 6.

Climatological winter ended on Feb. 28, but winter cold isn’t done yet as a parting shot of cold air is likely during the middle of March.

Let’s look back at a winter to remember, because we may not get something like this for a long time. (Most of the information here is taken from my Monthly Weather roundup show with New Jersey State Climatologist Dave robinson).

It was a persistently cold and snowy winter for the Jersey Shore. December, January and February were all colder than average, with

snow events each month. Temperatures were in the coldest third going back to 1895. However, it was not a top-10 or record-breaking winter because winters have warmed over time.

Atlantic City International Airport had its coldest winter since 20142015. Go to the beaches and the cold was more impressive. The Sen. Frank S. Farley State Marina in Atlantic City had its chilliest winter since 1993-’94, staying 4 degrees below the 19912020 average.

Up the coast, Long Branch lived through its coldest winter since 1980-’81.

Each county in our region reported above-average snowfall. Typically, the Jersey Shore was 10 to 20 inches above seasonal snowfall. There was, however, a noteworthy jump in totals once you went to the northern part of the Jersey Shore, as follows:

● Cape May: Woodbine (25.0 inches)

● Atlantic: Hamilton (29.4 inches)

● Ocean: Manchester (42.4 inches)

● Monmouth: red Bank (49.6 inches)

For snow lovers, it was a great winter.

The drought continues

Despite the heavy snow, it stayed dry overall. Precipitation (including melted snow) was below normal every month. Drought warnings continued from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, with low groundwater levels persisting.

We need more rain or snow soon to avoid worse drought problems this summer.

February nor’easter

The biggest story from February was the nor’easter that hit Feb. 2223. This storm dropped heavy snow up and down the Shore. Almost everywhere saw double-digit snowfall totals of 10 inches or more.

Interestingly, the slushy cold ocean may have brought higher shore snow totals. Mid-latitude cyclones like this nor’easter intensify along boundaries of cold and mild air. With the cold ocean, the storm had to go out farther east in search of the warmer Gulf Stream.

Sunday snow record

Atlantic City International Airport tied a record for the most snow on a Sunday with 19.6 inches, matching a previous record.

Is it luck? Maybe. Is it a shame? Maybe. That’s up to you to decide.

Lots of snow, but not a record

The Jan. 25 nor’easter and the weather to follow was a unique set of circumstances that led to snow staying on the ground for weeks, literally.

Atlantic City International Airport had the fourth longest stretch with at least an inch of snow on the ground, according to the National Weather Service. Snow stayed on the ground from Jan. 25 to Feb. 14. Up the coast, in Long Branch, the streak was for 27 days.

However, neither of these were records. ACY’s longest stretch was February – March, 2003, with 26 straight days of snow cover. The record in Long Branch is more than twice as long as what we just experienced – 58 days of snow cover made the city look like a glacier from Dec. 23, 1947, to Feb. 18, 1948.

Going a step further, when you look at the greatest number of days with snow cover in a climatological winter (December to February), Atlantic City International Airport ranked fourth, and Long Branch ranked seventh. Thanks to ray Martin at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly for that.

A winter to remember

The storm hugged the coast so eastern New Jersey got the heaviest snow. It stayed mostly snow without switching to rain or ice in many places, which made it feel more like a classic New Jersey winter storm.

It turns out that it was officially a blizzard. It met the criteria of 35 mph or greater winds, and visibility under a quarter of a mile from falling or blowing snow lasting three hours or more.

Overall, the winter of 2025-2026 reminded people of older, snowier New Jersey winters, but it wasn’t the most extreme ever. It was just reliably cold and white – a fun one for snow fans, but we still need more water to end the dry spell.

Joe Martucci, a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and Digital Meteorologist, is the President and Director of Meteorology for Cup A Joe Weather and Drone. You can connect with him at cupajoe.live.

Ocean City jitneys return for summer with expanded senior options

By Sarah Fertsch

Visitors heading to the Boardwalk this summer will have a convenient way to get around town once again.

Ocean City has approved the return of seasonal jitney service – a program which has become a popular transportation option since it debuted just a few years ago.

The shuttle-style jitneys will begin service for the season on Friday, May 22, coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend kickoff of the Shore’s busy tourism season. After operating during the holiday weekend, service will pause briefly before resuming June 19 and running seven days a week through Labor Day.

The jitneys, operated by the Atlantic City Jitney Association, provide rides along a continuous loop through the island’s central corridor and Boardwalk District. At just $3 per one-way ride, the program offers an affordable alternative for beachgoers who want to skip the challenge of finding convenient parking in the summer months. Children ages 5 and under ride free. Based on figures from previous years, the service can transport more than 13,000 riders in a season of operation.

The jitney service will provide relief from one of Ocean City’s biggest summer frustrations: parking. During peak weekends and holidays, thousands of visitors pour onto the island, and available spaces near the Boardwalk can disappear quickly. Drivers often circle crowded blocks, or wait for meters to open while navigating congested streets filled with beach traffic, pedestrians, electric bikes and golf carts.

For visitors unfamiliar with Ocean City, the service offers a convenient way to explore the island without needing a car. A family staying on the South End, for example, can ride the jitney to the Boardwalk amusement area, enjoy the evening attractions and catch a ride back after sunset.

The jitney program was introduced in 2022 as a pilot transportation initiative, replacing the city’s former trolley service and offering a more flexible, shuttle-style system. Since then, the lime-green-and-white minibuses have become a familiar sight along Ocean City’s main routes during summer evenings.

City officials say the program has been well received by visitors and locals. According to the city’s Community Services Department, the jitneys provide a simple, inexpensive way for people to reach the Boardwalk without worrying about parking meters, expensive lots or long walks after dark.

The service is particularly popular among summer employees working on the Boardwalk and at nearby businesses, many of whom rely on the jitneys as an easy commute option

during the busy season.

The main Boardwalk District Loop operates from 5 to 11 p.m. during the summer season. The route runs in a continuous circuit, beginning near 55th Street and West Avenue in the city’s South End, before traveling north toward Battersea road. It crosses the island using 14th Street and provides access to popular Boardwalk entry points near Ninth Street, Ocean Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.

r iders can board the jitneys at designated stops along the route, making it easy to hop on and off while exploring different parts of the island. Because the route runs in a loop, passengers can travel either north or south, depending on which side of the street they wait on.

On Feb. 26, Ocean City City Council approved a new contract with the Atlantic City Jitney Association to operate the service through 2028. The agreement reflects the city’s confidence in the program and its operator after several successful seasons. City officials praised the company’s reliability and customer service in a memo supporting the contract extension.

“We are confident that the ACJA can continue to provide a high level of consistency and customer service to our residents and visitors alike in 2026 and beyond,” wrote Daniel Kelchner, city director of Community Services.

The projected cost of operating the jitney program in 2026 is about $121,700, which includes the Boardwalk route and transportation ser-

vices for the city’s senior center.

In addition to the seasonal Boardwalk route, the jitney system also includes a year-round service designed for older residents, connecting Ocean City’s senior population with programs and activities at the Ocean City Community Center.

Beginning this year, the senior shuttle will operate three days a week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and

Thursdays – and will transition from a fixed-route system to a door-to-door service. The change allows seniors age 60 and older to schedule pickups directly from their homes for transportation to the Community Center. City officials say the new approach will make the service more accessible for residents who may have difficulty traveling to designated stops.

As Ocean City prepares for another busy high season, the return of the jitneys is expected to once again provide a convenient transportation option for visitors and residents alike.

For families heading to the Boardwalk for a night of rides and saltwater taffy, for employees commuting to summer jobs, or for seniors traveling to community programs, the small shuttle buses have become an increasingly familiar part of the city’s summer landscape.

Multi-day Events

Spring Book Sale

Events and Happenings

▶Friday, March 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Ocean City Library Atrium, 1735 Simpson Ave.

The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library will host their annual Spring Book Sale this weekend. Browse the incredible selection of fiction, non-fiction hardback and paperback books for adults, children and young adults, as well as puzzles, audio books, CDs and DVDs. Cash only. Bring a tote bag for your purchases.

Ocean City Market Madness

▶Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;

Sunday, March 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ocean City Civic Center, Sixth Street and Boardwalk

Join Ocean City merchants for a full weekend of shopping and spectacular deals. All of Ocean City’s favorite stores will be under one roof offering amazing specials. This event will include appearances from over 30 local businesses, along with food trucks, drinks, prize giveaways and live DJs.

Thursday, March 12

Cape-Atlantic Marine Corps League Meeting

▶7 p.m.

Marine Corps Bunker, 731 East Greek Creek road, Galloway

The Cape Atlantic USMC League will host their monthly meeting in Galloway. For more information, call 609-517-6466 or email camcl194@ gmail.com.

Night of Pure Irish

▶7 p.m.

Egg Harbor Township Community Center, 5045 English Creek Ave.

Mark your calendars as the Greate Egg Harbour Township Historical Society hosts an evening of Irish music featuring the Emerald Isle Academy Dancers and Sandpipers Pipes and Drums of Atlantic County. Suggested admission donation is $2 per person, GEHTHS members are free. refreshments will be available.

Friday, March 13

Movie at the Library

▶2 p.m.

Longport Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave.

Join the Longport Library this Friday for a screening of the film “Song Sung Blue.” A husband-and-wife Neil

Diamond tribute act experience a soaring success and devastating heartbreak in the true story of their musical life together. Call 609-487-7403 to register.

Saturday, March 14

Brigantine Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

▶1 p.m.

Brigantine Avenue from 8th to 31st Streets

The community is invited to the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, hosted by the Brigantine Chamber of Commerce. Celebrate alongside local businesses, organizations, and community groups for this special island tradition. Plus, local businesses will be offering various activities and themed events.

Pi Day

▶11 a.m

Ventnor Library, 6500 Atlantic Ave.

3.14 is Pi Day and Atlantic County Library in Ventnor is making paper replicas of your favorite types of pie, from pumpkin to cherry, apple, chocolate, lemon meringue, key lime and more. Open to children ages 5 and older. registration is required. For more information or to register, call 609-823-4614.

Family Craft Day

▶3 p.m.

Absecon Library, 305 New Jersey Ave.

Join Atlantic County Library in Absecon for a family craft day. Share your family’s creativity with other participants and take home your art pieces. All materials will be provided. registration is required. For more information or to register, call 609-646-2228.

Fool Moon Theatre Presents: ‘Love Letters’

▶7 p.m.

Unitarian Church, 75 Pomona road, Galloway

Join Fool Moon Theatre Company as they open the curtain on their latest production of “Love Letters.” A Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama, A. r . Gurney’s passionate love story is about two friends who share a 50-year relationship full of joy and sorrow through letters exchanged over a lifetime. “Love Letters” can also be seen at Studio Space in Somers Point March 21 and 22. Tickets can be purchased online at www.foolmoontheatre.org.

Sunday, March 15

Altan: Music of Ireland

▶2 p.m.

Stockton Performing Arts Center, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway Altan is regarded as one of the most popular traditional Irish bands of all time and is currently celebrating 40 years on the road. The group has sold more than 1 million records

and have received worldwide acclaim, bringing their native music to the most renowned stages across the globe. Tickets can be purchased online at www.stockton.edu/pacj.

Michael Pedicin Quintet: Improvisation, Creativity and Consciousness ▶2 p.m.

Ocean City Library, 1735 Simpson Ave.

Enjoy a Sunday afternoon of jazz at the Ocean City Library Lecture Hall throughout the month of March. This four-part series demonstrates the parallel relationships and synergy created when musicians improvise and align their collective consciousness. The concert will be led by Michael Pedicin on saxophone with Bob Ferguson on the trumpet, Jim Holton on piano, Andy Lalasis on bass and Tom Angello on the drums.

Monday, March 16

Lunch Around Town with JFS Village ▶12-1:30 p.m.

Queen Bean Bistro, 4800 Boardwalk, Ventnor

Enjoy a leisurely lunch while supporting a local restaurant. This month, JFS Village will dine at Queen Bean Bistro. Come prepared for good food and conversation. Order off the menu and pay individually. rSVP by March 10 by contacting Tina Serota at 609-2878872 or tserota@jfsvillage.org.

Yoga & Meditation with Tarak ▶5 p.m.

Inland Family Success Center, 3050 Spruce Ave., Egg Harbor Township

Join Tarak for a relaxing blend of gentle yoga and guided meditation designed to release tension, calm the mind and restore balance. Suitable for all levels, this session offers space to slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect with yourself. For more information, call 609-569-0376.

Women’s Experiences in the Revolutionary War ▶6:30 p.m.

Atlantic County Historical Society, 907 Shore road, Somers Point

Join ACHS this Monday as Julia rose Violante discusses the wide-ranging hardships and tragedies women dealt with during the American War for Independence, as well as some of their invaluable contributions to the war effort. Free admission.

Native Plant Society Meeting ▶7 p.m.

Stockton University Unified Science Center, room 160, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway

Learn native plant gardening tips

↘Continued on 14

2026 Shake the Shamrock

March 13th - 22nd

Pot of Gold Participating Chamber Members

Atlantic Title Agency

Brigantine Aquatic Center

Brigantine Home

Casale A Mare

Cusamano Builders

Ernest & Son Old Fashioned Butcher Shop

Green Whales, Inc

Haven Homes Builders

IAI - Insurance Agencies Inc.

McHugh’s Pizza NovaCare Rehabilitation

Ocean Beverage

Ola Kai Functional Fitness

Paisley Pelican Gift Boutique

Primal Surf

Sandy Jack’s Deli Shore House Team

Summer & Sage

The

The

The

Wiser

W.O.L.F.

and tricks with Native Plant Society Southeast Chapter co-leader Jesse Conner. Learn about plant selection, maintenance and favorite tools, followed by a Q&A. For more information, visit https://npsnj.org/event/lessonslearned-tips-techniques-for-nativeplant-gardeners/.

Tuesday, March 17

Energy Assistance Day

▶11 a.m.

Inland Family Success Center, 3050 Spruce Ave., Egg Harbor Township

Inland FSC invites the public to their upcoming Energy Assistance Day in partnership with South Jersey Gas. This event is designed to help families and community members learn about available programs that can reduce energy costs and provide support during the winter season. For more information, call 609-5690376.

St. Patrick’s Day Goblet Painting

▶12-1:30 p.m.

New Day Family Success Center, 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Pleasantville

Get ready to add a little sparkle to your winter and join Elena for a fun and creative DIY craft session where families can make a magical seasonal art project to take home. To register, call 609-652-0230.

Needlecraft Club

▶2 p.m.

Ventnor Library, 6500 Atlantic Ave.

If you love to embroider or crossstitch, but never have the time, the Atlantic County Library in Ventnor will save you a seat so you can work on your project. Bring your own crossstitch, embroidery, or other hand-sewing project. If you do not have any kits or materials, the club will have donated kits and supplies waiting for you to complete. registration is required. For more information or to register, call 609-823-4614.

Music Bingo at the Library

▶3:30 p.m.

Longport Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave.

Join your friends and family at Longport Library this Tuesday and try your luck at guessing the tunes at musical bingo. Call 609-487-7403 to register.

St. Patrick’s Day Beer Tasting and Irish Fiddle Concert

▶5-7 p.m.

Cardinal restaurant, 201 S. New York Ave., Atlantic City

This Tuesday, break out your green and join Cardinal for a special beer tasting and Irish fiddle concert presented by the Linwood Fiddle Club. Proceeds benefit the Absecon Lighthouse. For tickets and information, call 609-449-1360 or visit www.abseconlighthouse.org.

Wednesday, March 18

Wednesday Book Club

▶3:30-5:30 p.m.

Brigantine Library, 201 15th St. South

Join the Atlantic County Library in Brigantine for a chance to explore and discuss a variety of stories with fellow book lovers. registration is required. For more information or to register, call 609-266-0110.

Thursday, March 19

Coffee Klatch

10:30 a.m.

Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave., Margate

Join a fast-paced discussion on neighborhood happenings, technology, social topics, world events, the arts and more. rSVP by March 17 by contacting Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@jfsvillage.org.

Friday, March 20

Memoir Workshop

▶10:30 a.m.

Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave., Margate

Experience the thrill of capturing life’s adventures, history and ancestry with the Memoir Workshop led by award-winning author Harriet Levin Millan. Learn about publishing your work. A laptop or pen and paper is needed for the workshop. rSVP by

March 18 by contacting Tina Serota at 609-287-8872 or tserota@jfsvillage. org.

Clean Comedy Show

▶7 p.m.

Port Community Church, 118 Main St.

Join Port Community Church as they host an evening of clean comedy featuring the laugh-out-loud jokes of Gordon Douglas, rhonda Corey and Mike Murray. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Diane randazzo at 484-769-9232.

Saturday, March 21

Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Job Fair

▶1-3 p.m.

Ocean City Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk

Come out to the Music Pier next Saturday and meet local and regional businesses to hear about exciting seasonal and summer job opportunities for individuals of all ages. Call 609399-1412 for more information.

Sunday, March 22

Tango, Tacos & Tequila with AC Ballet

▶2-6 p.m.

Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Mays Landing road, Somers Point

Join the Atlantic City Ballet for a spectacular afternoon of dance while

supporting the arts in our area. Attendees will enjoy a luncheon, a thrilling tango competition and excerpts from the upcoming ballet “Carmen.” Proceeds support the Atlantic City Ballet. Tickets can be purchased online at www.acballet.org. For questions, call Claire at 609-703-2081.

Monday, March 23

Journey Through the World of Art

▶10:30 a.m.

Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave., Margate

Join JFS Village as they explore how art evolved in various countries and periods. See how influence from politics, religion and discoveries affected the artwork in Part One of this multi-part series. rSVP by March 18 by contacting Tina Serota at 609-2878872 or tserota@jfsvillage.org.

Thursday, March 26

Absecon Galloway Rotary Club Meetings

▶6:30 p.m.

Gourmet Italian restaurant, 324 South Pitney road, Galloway

The Absecon Galloway rotary Club invites you to be their meeting guest. A networking social hour will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Learn more about rotary, how they serve our local community and meet people. For club information,

go to www.facebook.com/AbseconGallowayrotary or email rose McCarthy, club president, at bluerose46@aol.com.

Bus Trips

Grounds for Sculpture

▶Thursday, April 30

Sponsored by the Green Thumb Garden Club. Cost of $90 includes transportation, entrance fee and driver’s tip. The bus will leave from the Somers Point Target parking lot at 8 a.m. and return to Somers Point at 4:30 p.m. Mail your check made out to GTGC. Include your name, address, phone number and email to: Sally Pietrofitta, 250 Atlantic Ave., Somers Point, NJ 08244. For more information, call Sally at 609-927-4147 or after 6 p.m. call Cheryl at 267-882-8355.

Health and Wellness

Coffee Talk

▶11 a.m. Saturdays

Atlantic Community Wellness Center, 1125 Atlantic Ave., Suite 617, Atlantic City

The Atlantic County Wellness Center hosts a weekly gratitude-themed group. During this one-hour meeting, participants deepen their practice of gratitude, which is shown to reduce stress, improve mood and increase optimism. For more information, call 609-652-3800 or email jgimbel@ mhanj.org.

Monday Meditation and Stretching

▶11:30 a.m. Mondays

Mental Health Association in Atlantic County, 4 E. Jimmie Leeds road, Galloway

The Atlantic County Wellness Center provides a weekly meditation, follow-up discussion and light stretch on Mondays. Newcomers and people with all levels of experience in meditation are welcome. For more information, call 609-652-3800 or email jgimbel@ mhanj.org.

Depression and Anxiety Group

▶5:30 p.m. Tuesdays

Atlantic Community Wellness Center, 1125 Atlantic Ave. Suite 617, Atlantic City

This weekly in-person support group is offered to individuals seeking coping strategies, support, self-care, wellness and recovery. Meetings are led by peers who have lived experience. No cost to participate. Offered

friends of individuals over the age of 18 living with a mental illness. Participants gain the support of peers who understand their experience and gain insight into the challenges and successes of others. Family Support and Connections groups meet on the second Monday of each month. Visito www. namiacm.org for further information. Prenatal Care: Navigating the Third and Fourth Trimester

▶5 p.m. Thursday, March 12

New Day Family Success Center, 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Pleasantville

Join New Day FSC as Jean rose from The Cooperative hosts a supportive conversation on navigating the third and fourth trimesters. Learn about pregnancy, postpartum care and other resources to support pregnancy during this important time. For more information, call 609-652-0230.

Dementia Support Group

▶1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18

Egg Harbor Township Community Center, 5045 English Creek Ave. Held on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Call Diane Conover at 609-402-6966 for more information.

Do you have an upcoming event? Let us know about it! Submit your next event to shorelocalevents@gmail.com.

3120 Fire Road, Suite 100, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ

Phone 609.317.0801 kap@djd.law djdlawyers.com

Shamrocks by the Shore: Ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

By Sarah Fertsch

When March rolls around, the Jersey Shore trades its winter gray for a little Irish green. From festive parades and family-friendly festivals to hearty meals and neighborhood pubs, St. Patrick’s Day is a chance for locals and visitors alike to celebrate Irish heritage.

Whether you’re looking for a lively parade, traditional Irish fare, or a cozy spot to raise a pint with friends, South Jersey offers plenty of ways to join the celebration.

A taste of Ireland close to home

Of course, no St. Patrick’s Day celebration would be complete without traditional Irish comfort food. A longtime favorite in the region is Fitzpatrick's Deli & Steakhouse. Known for its classic New York–style deli offerings, the restaurant has built a loyal following over decades thanks to house-roasted meats, hearty sandwiches and traditional comfort

Synthetic Blend $19.99 (up to 5 quarts) Full synthetic $39.99 (restrictions apply) Valid through 3/15/26

dishes like corned beef and pastrami reubens.

Around St. Patrick’s Day, dishes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and other festive specials often appear on menus throughout the region, giving diners a chance to celebrate with authentic flavors.

Raise a pint with friends

Local pubs also come alive during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, many featuring live Irish music, themed menus and festive drink specials.

For many locals, the day is less about elaborate plans and more about gathering with friends, supporting neighborhood businesses and enjoying the welcoming atmosphere that Irish culture celebrates.

Josie Kelly’s of Somers Point hosts celebrations with traditional Irish cuisine and great entertainment.

If you are feeling festive, Atlantic City will be host to multiple bar crawls this weekend, and on the actual holiday. Enjoy brews from local spots, like the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall (where one crawl begins their spirited adventure), or browse

the offerings of casinos. The Lucky Leprechaun inside resorts Casino Hotel is a great place to get your green on!

Family-friendly ways to celebrate

While the holiday is often associated with pub crawls and nightlife, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations along the Jersey Shore can also be surprisingly family friendly.

Brigantine's St. Patrick’s Day Parade is certain to put you in the holiday spirit. The parade runs along Brigantine Avenue from 8th to 31st streets, Saturday, March 14, beginning at 1 p.m.

Also, on Saturday, March 14, the whole family can run the 46th Annual St. Pat's Boardwalk 10-miler race or 5k in Atlantic City. Starting and finishing at Ocean Casino, runners can enjoy the springtime sea breeze as they race from the AC Inlet and back.

For those who prefer a slower pace, try your hand at these activities: taking a seasonal stroll around the EHT Nature Preserve, make Irish potatoes, or read about the history of St. Patrick’s Day at your local library.

The Ocean City Arts Center is celebrating Irish arts with Maura MicKinney Mastro, presenting "Unleashing the Soul of Irish Music.” Her vocals and traditional dance will bring smiles to all ages - and the event takes place on St. Patrick’s Day!

Bringing a little luck to the shore

At its heart, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of heritage and community — values that resonate strongly in South Jersey’s coastal towns.

Whether you’re watching bagpipers, enjoying a plate of corned beef at a neighborhood restaurant, or simply gathering with friends to raise a pint, the holiday offers a chance to celebrate the spirit of the season.

After all, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

Opening Day March 28th

Simple ways to sneak more greens into your diet

Views from the Shore

By Brian Cahill

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, we start seeing green everywhere — decorations, shirts, even bagels. It got me thinking about another kind of green that many of us probably don’t get enough of: leafy greens.

If I’m being honest, getting enough vegetables — especially greens — has always been a challenge for me. Like a lot of people, I try to eat healthy, but between busy schedules and the usual dinner routines, it’s easy to fall back on the same meals. And sometimes those meals don’t include nearly as many greens as they probably should. Fortunately, one of the perks of working at Shore is that I have access to experts when it comes to nutrition. So, I reached out to Tiffany rios, rD, CDE, with the Shore Physi -

cians Group Endocrinology Division, to ask a simple question: What are some easy ways for people like me to get more greens into our diets?

The trick, she said, is finding ways to incorporate greens into meals you already enjoy. She shared a few simple ideas that even someone like me can manage.

One of the easiest strategies is adding greens to sauces. Spinach, kale or even finely diced zucchini can be blended right into red pasta sauce. It makes the sauce more nutrient-dense without really changing the flavor. Greens can also be mixed into pesto alongside olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts.

Foods like spinach, kale, arugula and broccoli are packed with important nutrients including vitamin K, folate, magnesium, potassium, iron and antioxidants. These nutrients help

support bone health, healthy blood cells, blood pressure regulation and more. The encouraging part, rios explained, is that you don’t need a dramatic diet overhaul to see benefits.

r ios recommends sautéing or roasting the vegetables before adding them to sauces for added flavor. Cooking them with a little olive oil not only improves flavor but also helps your body absorb fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin K.

Another surprisingly simple option is smoothies. A handful of spinach blends easily and has very little flavor when combined with fruit. rios suggested a smoothie with spinach, frozen berries, almond milk, and either protein powder or Greek yogurt.

“Spinach blends well and almost disappears in a smoothie,” she said. “You’re getting nutrients like folate and magnesium without really noticing it.”

Her third tip was one I hadn’t thought of: mixing vegetables directly into proteins like burgers or omelets. Grated zucchini and chopped spinach can be mixed into chicken, turkey or beef burgers along with ingredients like onion, egg and breadcrumbs. The zucchini actually helps keep the burger moist while adding extra nutrition. If you’re interested in trying it yourself, you can find a Spinach Chicken Burger recipe here: https://somethingnutritiousblog. com/spinach-chicken-burgers/

Eating healthier doesn’t have to mean a complete diet makeover. Sometimes it can be just about sneaking a handful of greens into the foods you already enjoy. And with St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, maybe the luck of the Irish isn’t finding a pot of gold, it’s finding a few easy ways to get more green onto the plate.

Three candidates compete in Ocean City mayoral election

By Julia Train

Voters will have three choices in the Ocean City mayoral election after incumbent Jay Gillian drew two challengers seeking to lead the city.

Gillian, who has served as mayor since 2010, is seeking his fifth fouryear term. He will face Keith Hartzell, a Second Ward councilman who previously ran for mayor against him in 2022, and Peter Madden, the current vice president of City Council making his first run for the office.

Each candidate is running with a campaign slogan: Gillian with “Proven Leadership for a Stronger Tomorrow,” Hartzell with “Make Ocean City Even Better,” and Madden with “Leadership Ocean City Deserves.”

The municipal election will also determine three at-large seats on City Council, adding another competitive race to the ballot.

Gillian seeks fifth term

Gillian first ran for mayor in 2010 after growing frustrated with the

state of the city’s infrastructure and government operations.

“It really all started with the lack of getting things done and our infrastructure was failing. Our boardwalk was failing. Our back bays were all choked up with mud, and there was fighting between the administration and the Council,” Gillian said. “I ran to, like the slogan says, just bring unity

back and bring some common sense, and get things done.”

Now 61, Gillian said he is seeking another term to continue projects and improvements that began during his 16-year administration. Among the issues he cited are ongoing flood mitigation projects and continued infrastructure improvements across the island.

Gillian pointed to projects completed during his tenure, including beach replenishment, dredging of the back bays, upgrades to recreation facilities and utilities infrastructure.

“To me, it's 16 years of success,” he said. “Ocean City is a much better and different place now.”

He added that the city’s upcoming police station project, which is scheduled to break ground in the fall, is another reason he wants to remain in office.

The mayor also addressed questions about his personal financial situation, emphasizing transparency and separation from city business.

“It has no effect at the end of the day,” Gillian said. “I don't run from or hide from it…I hit everything headon.”

Hartzell planning rematch

Hartzell is preparing for a rematch with Gillian after losing the 2022 mayoral election by about 400 votes.

↘Continued on 20

He formally announced his mayoral campaign via social media on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Although he had not formally entered the race when first discussing his plans, Hartzell said he began what he described as a “soft announcement” by meeting directly with residents across the city.

“What I like to do is knock on doors and talk to people, and make sure that what I’m thinking is what they’re thinking,” Hartzell told Shore Local in January. “So when I go to announce, and I have my platform, it will be vetted from door-to-door activity every day.”

Hartzell said those conversations with residents guide his campaign strategy.

“I’m formulating my strategy. I’m out talking to people…This is a time when I go knock on doors every day, and I talk to people, and I gather information and research,” he said. “I mean, you can poll or you can go talk to people. I go talk to people. I’m a living room, front porch guy.”

Hartzell previously served on council before his 2022 mayoral run and later returned to the governing body.

One issue that motivated his earlier campaign was development on the former Gillian’s Wonderland Pier site

on the Boardwalk.

“I was very concerned that Gillian’s would cease to exist one day, and that Mr. Mita would want to build a highrise hotel,” Hartzell said. “And that’s exactly what happened.”

While he supports redevelopment of the site, Hartzell said he does not favor a tall hotel structure there.

“I don’t mind some kind of a hotel, but not a high rise,” he said.

Hartzell has said he favors a mixed-use redevelopment concept that would maintain boardwalk-style entertainment along the oceanfront portion of the property, with lodging located toward the rear.

For now, he said his focus remains on hearing directly from residents before finalizing a detailed platform.

“This is just a time to go out and talk to people and listen,” Hartzell said.

Madden enters race for first time

Madden, who currently serves as City Council vice president, is running for mayor for the first time after more than a decade in local government.

He began his public service in 2009 with a term on the Ocean City Board of Education.

“I like the idea of being involved in the kids' school. I have four kids. All went through the Ocean City School

District. Being involved in school, to me, was helpful in understanding what was happening, why it was happening and having some influence on decisions that are made,” Madden said.

He later transitioned to City Council, where he has served for roughly 12 years, including seven years as council president and two as vice president.

He said his decision to run for mayor stems from his belief that the role allows him to have a greater impact on key decisions facing the city.

“I thought that Ocean City needed leadership from the mayor seat,” Madden said. “I've been on council for 12 years and moving into some of the decisions that we have to make coming up soon with the city, I thought I was better suited to help impact the city as mayor versus on council.”

Among the major issues he cited are the future of the Wonderland site and several ongoing capital projects.

Madden said Ocean City’s beaches and Boardwalk remain central to the community’s identity and economy.

“To me, the beach and the boardwalk are the crown jewels of Ocean City, and we want to make sure that we have enough sand on the beaches for everybody coming down, and we have a boardwalk that is first class

again,” he said. The candidate said communication and collaboration would be key aspects of his leadership style.

“I believe that the biggest thing that separates me from the other two is the ability to really tie everybody together,” he said. “I work very hard to communicate. regardless of who you are, regardless of whether I like you or I don't like you, I have a job to do.”

He added that voters will ultimately decide who is best suited for the position.

“The job I'm applying for is Mayor, and I'm hoping that the voters, who are the interviewers, see the qualities that I have that are going to help Ocean City going into the future, and will hire me for the job,” Madden said.

Council race also forming

The May 12 election will also include a race for three at-large seats on City Council.

Incumbents Sean Barnes and Tony Polcini will run alongside newcomers Jocelyn Palaganas and longtime Ocean City resident Jim Kelly.

With three mayoral candidates and multiple council contenders on the ballot, voters will decide the city’s leadership for the next four years when they head to the polls in two months.

Raising the curtain on the Ocean City Theatre Company: A conversation with Michael Hartman

By Alanna Stoloff

Michael Hartman brings energy, creativity, and a deep commitment to community to his role at the Ocean City Theatre Company. As the founding artistic director, Hartman combines a background in large-scale events and communications with a genuine passion for the performing arts, resulting in productions that are polished, meaningful and memorable.

At the heart of Michael's leadership is the belief that the arts connect people. He views theatre as a powerful way to bring audiences together, spark conversation and strengthen a shared sense of culture and belonging.

Through thoughtful programming, collaboration, and genuine enthusiasm, he continues to make a lasting impact both on stage and within the community, one that resonates well beyond opening night.

That commitment extends to the next generation as well. OCTC's dedication to dance, music and theatre education for youth continues to grow, with staff running theatre camps through Ocean City's Department of recreation. The company has also established a Junior Company, giving young people in the area the opportunity to shine in fully staged productions.

Most performances take place at the iconic Ocean City Music Pier, as well as other venues, bringing worldclass experiences to the shore community he clearly loves.

Here are some excerpts from our Coastal Conversation:

AS: What role does theater play in Ocean City?

MH: Theater plays a vital role in Ocean City by enriching the community beyond its beaches, boardwalk, bay and downtown. While the city is known for its seaside attractions, arts and culture enhance residents’ quality of life and help drive tourism.

AS: How do your productions bring people together?

MH: Ocean City Theatre Company brings people together through shared experiences. We offer a vari -

ety of entertainment that appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, welcoming all walks of life into one theatre space. While each person may connect to a performance in their own way, there is a powerful sense of unity that forms during a live show. By curtain call, audiences leave feeling that shared bond, connected through story, music and the collective experience of theatre. Our affordable ticket pricing and the convenience of experiencing high-quality theatre close to home foster a strong sense of community pride.

AS: What goes into choosing shows?

MH: That’s a tough question. There are so many factors that go into selecting our productions. Audience appeal is always top of mind, but we also carefully consider technical limitations, funding, the rights and royalty process, and the venue itself. All of these elements form the foundation for finding the right fit and creating a balanced, successful season.

AS: While the theatre company welcomes people of all ages, how do you support young performers?

MH: We pride ourselves on creating a safe, welcoming, creative and most importantly, a fun environment where students of all ability levels can soar. We understand that not every young performer dreams of Broadway, but each one deserves a meaningful and impactful educational experience. At the same time, some students have the drive and passion to be challenged at a higher level. We strive to strike a thoughtful balance, meeting every student where they are while encouraging growth, confidence and a love for the arts.

AS: What is your most rewarding production?

MH: Another tough question! Coming out of the pandemic, our 2022 production of “The Sound of Music” was incredibly rewarding. Because of the pandemic, it was truly two years in the making. Bringing this beloved classic to the stage with a professional cast and the full Ocean City POPS Orchestra renewed our appreciation for the power of live theatre and the resilience of our community.

AS: Why is live theater important today?

MH: Live theater is important for many reasons, but one of the most standout benefits is that it offers a

chance to disconnect from digital life and the daily hustle and bustle. This is especially impactful for kids and youth.

AS: What challenges do you face?

MH: Ocean City Theatre Company is a standalone nonprofit. While we value our partnership with the City of Ocean City, we are not totally subsidized by the city, a common misconception. Ticket sales alone do not cover the full cost of producing high-quality performances. We rely heavily on fundraising, donations and grants to offset expenses.

AS: What’s coming next?

MH: We are gearing up for our 19th official season, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting one! This summer, we’re partnering with the Ocean City POPS and the City of Ocean City to present the Broadway musical “Sister Act.” Our Summer Children’s Series at the Music Pier will return with five family-friendly, literary-based performances. The 2026 Junior Company shows will include “High School Musical Jr.” and “Fame!”

Thank you to Michael Hartman for sharing his time and insight for this Coastal Conversations feature and for his dedication to bringing theatre and the arts to the community.

Coastal Conversations highlights people in our community who are making a meaningful impact. If you know someone who would be a great fit for a future column, please contact me at ShoreCoastalConversations@ gmail.com.

From the shore to your door, let’s keep the conversation going.

The great Irish soda bread debate: Tradition vs. currants

By Tammy Thornton

As someone who enjoys making all different types of breads (and eating them), I often make Irish soda bread for my family on St. Patrick's Day. You don’t need to be Irish to enjoy this type of bread, and you also don’t need a lot of time or ingredients. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) serves as the leavening agent, eliminating the need for yeast or waiting for the dough to rise. When searching for a recipe, however, you may find yourself embroiled in the middle of a heated debate. Traditionalists state that authentic Irish soda should only contain four ingredients: flour, salt, buttermilk (or sour milk), and baking soda. But wait a minute, what about sugar, eggs, milk, raisins,

or currants? Well, according to purists, those ingredients do not belong in a traditional Irish soda bread. Some people take their Irish soda bread so seriously that they have created a group called “The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread”. Their stated mission is to “honor our ancestors by preserving the authenticity of this ancient recipe and educating the public on its rich history”. According to the research of Ed O’Dwyer, founder of the Society, Irish soda bread did not grow in popularity until after the tragic famine of 1845-1852, which claimed the lives of one million Irish people. Once wheat and baking soda became available after the famine, Irish soda bread became a staple on Irish tables and was a “daily bread that did not keep long and had to be baked every few days.” In the 19th century, currants did find their way into Irish breads (cakes), but this currant bread was only made on special occasions such as Christmas or Easter. On his website, O’Dwyer further states that, “There are recipes for those types of cakes (fancy at the time) but they are

not the traditional soda bread eaten by the Irish daily since the mid 19th century. We honor them by making Traditional Soda Bread. Pretending that they ate fruity desserts every day is to ignore history”.

Irish-Americans may have taken a different view of the recipe. Walk into the grocery store this time of year, and the first thing you will see is a shelf of Irish soda bread containing…currants or raisins! Search the internet for Irish soda bread recipes and even many of those claiming to be “traditional” will contain currants or raisins in the ingredient lists. Personally, I myself have made this soda bread both ways and it seems to be simply a matter of choice. Jennie Field, who lives in Linwood and is of Irish descent, is no stranger to Irish-American traditions. Her daughter, Cassidy, has been performing as an Irish dancer from the ages 5 to 22. They have been to Ireland several times and Cassidy has competed in World Championships for Irish dancing. But when Jennie makes Irish soda bread, she is on Team raisins saying, “When I make it at home, I do put raisins in it. However, when I’ve been to Ireland on several trips, they don’t seem to have raisins in it at the

restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts. I think the raisins were an American twist.” Lately, Jennie has been busy working on a different Irish-American recipe, making over 100 Irish potatoes. Her kids and their friends visited last weekend and, in a matter of days, all of the Irish potatoes were all gone!

We would love to hear from our readers. Are you on Team Traditional, strictly using only four ingredients for your soda bread, or Team Currants/ raisins? Send your comments to: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.

Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.

The Forecast Calls for Fun

Whether you want a book to read by the fire or fun indoor activities, the library has you covered. Choose from best-selling books, helpful workshops, children’s programs, concerts, online resources and more this winter.

Visit OceanCityLibrary.org for a complete list of events and resources.

HOURS Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm Sat. 9am-5pm • Sun. 11am-5pm

CURBSIDE PICKUP Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm Sat. 9am-4pm • Sun. 11am-4pm

Market Madness returns to Ocean City Civic Center

Ocean City businesses will gather under one roof for the fifth annual Market Madness event on March 14 and March 15. The two-day shopping extravaganza offers an early sample of summer with discounts and specials on everybody’s favorite local merchandise, brands and attractions.

The event is held at the Ocean City Civic Center, just off the Boardwalk between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, with plenty of free and convenient parking adjacent to the building (access from Fifth Street). Local food trucks from Las Olas Taqueria, Jay’s Crab Shack, Philly Jawns and Ocean City Coffee Company will be on hand.

● Surf Mall

● We Make It Personal

● White Lotus Boutique

In addition to vendors from Ocean City’s Boardwalk and Downtown districts, Market Madness will feature a live DJ and prize giveaways. Hours for the event are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Participating businesses include the following:

● 96 Shades

● Agape Gourmet

● Air Circus

● All Campus

● Ashore Fit

● Bad Kitty Kids

● Bella U

● Boba Works

● Bowfish Kids

● Fisherman’s Cove

● George’s Candies

● Goodies Gone Wild

● Heritage Surf & Sport

● Jay’s Crab Shack

● Jewelry Hut

● Jilly’s Arcade

● Jilly’s Stores

● Johnson’s Popcorn

● Kay Jay’s Doll Shoppe

● Kilwins

● LEH Soap Company

● Making Waves

● Manco & Manco Pizza

● Mia’s Christmas Gallery

● OC Waterpark

● OCNJ Entertainment

● Playland’s Castaway Cove

● rock Star

● Seagrass Boutique

● Shirt Shack

● Stainton’s

Registration open for Doo Dah Parade on April 18

Tax season comes to a close on April 15, and Ocean City’s annual tribute to all things humorous falls on April 18 this year. The madcap Doo Dah Parade features a brigade of basset hounds but also features floats, bands and a variety of other entries. registration is open now for anybody who would like to participate: ocnj.us/ doodahparade.

The parade starts at noon, and the route covers downtown Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 12th Street and the Boardwalk from 12th Street back to Sixth Street.

Dietz & Watson returns as a presenting sponsor. For more information, call 609-399-6111.

registration for two other spring events is now open:

● OC Con Comic Book and Memorabilia Show (April 11 and 12): Vendor registration and sign-ups for the Super Hero 1-Mile run and separate Kids’ Events are open at ocnjcon.com.

● Sports Memorabilia Show (April 25 and 26): Vendor registration for the two-day event on April 25 and 26 at the Music Pier is open at ocnj.us/SportsMemorabiliaShow.

More spring events

The Ocean City regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Job Fair 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 21 at the Ocean City Music Pier.

The spring season starts with annual Easter events. The Great Egg Hunts on March 28 and April 4 will invite children to stop by participating boardwalk stores in their search for eggs and treats. The annual non-denominational Easter Sunrise Service is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. April 5 at the Music Pier. The Easter Dueling Pianos Show will be on Sunday, April 5, outside the Music Pier.

The spring calendar continues with Girls Weekend from April 10 to April 12, and the OC Con Comic Book and Memorabilia Show on April 11 and April 12 (artist registration is

open at ocnjcon.com).

The madcap Doo Dah Parade falls on April 18 this year and will feature the usual brigade of basset hounds

The Sports Memorabilia Show returns to a two-day event on April 25 and April 26 at the Music Pier. Stay posted for announcements about this year’s special guests. Vendor registration is open at ocnj.us/ SportsMemorabiliaShow.

Martin Z. Mollusk seeks his shadow on

May 1, and we’re betting that he’ll bring us another early summer. The Spring Block Party returns on May 2.

May 9 brings the Spring Cruisin’ the Boards Car Show on the Boardwalk and the Ocean City Schools Art Showcase at the Music Pier.

The Ocean City Skate Park hosts the all-girls Chica De Mayo skateboard party on May 17.

That all leads to the moment we wait for each year: the Unlocking of the Ocean and Business Persons Plunge. This traditional start to the summer season falls on Friday, May 22 this year.

Five familiar favorites I think you’ll love

By Cindy Christy Fertsch

One of the greatest pleasures of living in South Jersey is the local places that make our communities feel like home. From neighborhood restaurants to small businesses run by people who genuinely care about what they do, these spots become part of our routines and our memories.

Over the years, I’ve found myself returning to a handful of favorites again and again. Some are tied to family traditions, others to simple everyday moments — a great sandwich, a trusted service or a seasonal treat. Here are five local favorites that never disappoint.

1. Fitzpatrick’s Deli & Steakhouse, Somers Point

My mom and I have a weekly standing date: lunch at Fitzpatrick’s in Somers Point. She will tell you without hesitation that they serve the best reuben sandwich in the world. After one bite, it’s hard to argue.

For me, the chicken salad wrap paired with their homemade coleslaw is a go-to order. Everything tastes fresh, and the portions are generous.

(We always go home with tomorrow's lunch, too.)

Fitzpatrick’s is also my secret weapon when hosting family gatherings. Their potato salad and coleslaw have become staples at our get-togethers — always among the first dishes to disappear from the table.

2. Chester’s Pastry Pantry Bakery, Somers Point

St. Patrick’s Day has a way of turning everyone a little Irish, and Chester’s has long been part of that celebration. Their famous Irish potatoes — those bite-sized treats made with coconut, cream cheese

and cinnamon — are a holiday favorite locals eagerly anticipate every March. They’re the perfect treat to bring to a family dinner, office gathering or party. Chester’s has been a beloved bakery in the community for decades, and stepping inside feels like entering a place where tradition still matters. Around St. Patrick’s Day, the shamrock cookies and sweet aromas make it a must-stop destination.

3. Four on the Floor Dog Training

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a dog person. Dogs bring so much joy into our lives, but they can also bring plenty of energy and mischief. That’s where Heidi from Four on the Floor comes in.

Heidi has helped countless dog owners better understand and train their furry best friends. From basic obedience to walking calmly on a leash, she approaches training with both expertise and compassion.

Irish celebration featuring a special menu of house-made favorites.

Guests can enjoy classics such as corned beef and cabbage, award-winning Irish stew and homemade shepherd’s pie, along with Guinness on tap and other Irish favorites behind the bar. The restaurant is decorated for the occasion, making it a lively place to gather with friends and celebrate.

Whether you stop in on St. Patrick’s Day itself or earlier in the weekend, Gregory’s offers the kind of warm, neighborhood atmosphere that keeps locals coming back.

What stands out most is her patience — not just with the dogs, but with their owners. She has a natural way of explaining techniques clearly while helping families build stronger relationships with their pets.

4. Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar, Somers Point

Gregory’s restaurant & Bar has long been a neighborhood favorite in Somers Point, known for its welcoming atmosphere and consistently good food.

This time of year, Gregory’s leans into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with a festive celebration. From Friday, March 13, through Tuesday, March 17, the restaurant is hosting a five-day

5. Rita’s Water Ice, Absecon

For many South Jersey residents, the arrival of spring isn’t marked by a date on the calendar — it’s marked by the taste of rita’s.

The rita’s Water Ice location on White Horse Pike in Absecon has long been a seasonal tradition for local families. When the weather starts to warm up, lines quickly form for the first taste of the year.

While the classic water ice remains the star, r ita’s also offers frozen custard, gelatis and a variety of frozen treats to satisfy any sweet tooth.

On those early spring evenings, it’s common to see neighbors catching up in line while enjoying their favorite flavor — a simple tradition that signals warmer days are finally on the way.

What makes these places special isn’t just the food, services or treats they offer. It’s the people behind them.

Local businesses create the experiences and traditions that shape our everyday lives. Whether it’s sharing a meal with family, training a beloved pet or celebrating an extra hour of light in the evening with a cup of water ice, these small moments add up to something meaningful.

They remind us that some of the best things around the Shore are the places we return to again and again.

Entertainment & Dining at the Shore

Top Weekly Entertainment Picks

By Steffen Klenk

We’re seeing green as Saint Patrick’s Day weekend brings fun festivities to South Jersey. Gather your family and friends for the Brigantine Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Plus, see the state’s top wrestlers compete at Boardwalk Hall and dance a jig to John Oates. Get the inside scoop on what’s happening with our Top Weekly Entertainment Picks.

What: 2026 NJSIAA State Wrestling

Championship

Where: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

When: Thursday, March 12-Saturday, March 14

Website: https://www.boardwalkhall.com/events/detail/njsiaa-wrestling-championships-2026

See the state’s top high school athletes compete at historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the NJSIAA State Wrestling Tournament. This threeday event will feature 448 qualifiers and matchups highlighting local and regional schools.

Who: John Oates

Where: The Music Box at Borgata

When: Friday, March 13

Time: 9 p.m.

Website: https://borgata.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/themusic-box/john-oates.html

John Oates & The Great road Band is on tour and they’re making a stop in Atlantic City. Oates is celebrating 25 years as a solo artist, highlighting his self-titled album “Oates” and

long-storied career as co-founder of Hall & Oates. See the rock and roll Hall of Famer live at Borgata’s Music Box on Friday.

Who: Mammoth WVH

Where: Tropicana Showroom

When: Friday, March 13

Time: 7 p.m.

Website: www.caesars.com/tropicana-ac/shows

Enjoy a night of high-energy rock as Mammoth takes the stage at Tropicana on Saturday. See Wolfgang Van Halen, son of late Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen, perform as part of The End tour, with special guests 10 Years and James and the Cold Gun.

What: Brigantine Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Where: Brigantine Avenue from Eighth to 31st streets

When: Saturday, March 14

Time: 1 p.m.

Website: https://brigantinechamber. com/event-6522181

The community is invited to the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, hosted by the Brigantine Chamber of Commerce. Celebrate alongside local organizations and community groups for this special island tradition. Plus, local businesses will be offering various activities and themed events.

What: My Generation Tour

Where: Circus Maximus Theatre at Caesars

When: Saturday, March 14

Time: 8 p.m.

Website: www.caesars.com/caesars-ac/shows

Take a trip back to the golden age of rock with some of the hottest groups of the ’60s and ’70s, featuring The Lovin’ Spoonful, Gary Lewis and The Playboys and The Hollies starring Terry Sylvester. Audiences will hear mind-blowing songs that blew up the charts and won the hearts of millions.

What: Country at The Yard

Where: The Yard at Bally’s

When: Saturdays

Time: 8 p.m.-1 a.m.

Website: https://casinos.ballys.com/ atlantic-city/the-yard.htm

Grab your cowboy hat, flannel and boots for an evening of country music at The Yard. Each week, the hottest local bands will perform the biggest country hits and classics on stage. Enjoy the music of Not Leaving Sober, Karly C and the rebel Y’all Band, 40 North and Y’all or Nothin’, plus your favorite DJs will be spinning the tunes you know and love.

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What: Saint Patrick’s Day in Atlantic City

Where: resorts Atlantic City

When: Tuesday, March 17

Time: 4 p.m.-late

Website: https://resortsac.com/entertainment/st-patricks-day-eventsatlantic-city/

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with festive food and drink specials along with free lucky shamrock beads. The Kilted rogues Irish Bagpipers will be performing jigs and shindigs throughout the casino floor from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Then, head to the Tipsy Leprechaun Pop-Up Bar for an evening of Karaoke with Cowboy Kevin.

See Mammoth WVH at Tropicana on March 13.

What: Saint Patrick’s Day in Somers Point

Where: Josie Kelly’s Public House

When: Tuesday, March 17

Time: 10 a.m.-close

Website: www.josiekellys.com/ event/st-patricks-day-2/

It’s the holiday that many wait for all year long. St. Patrick’s Day at Josie Kelly’s will include special appearances from your favorite bartenders and servers, with top-class entertainers to keep the party going. Enjoy the sounds of Tom Brett, along with Nae Breeks Pipes & Drums, The Sessioneers, Emerald Island Academy of Irish Dance and more.

Steffen Klenk is a photographer and multimedia journalist who enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life. You may contact Steffen at shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com.

Friday, March 13

John Oates

▶9 p.m.

The Music Box at Borgata Mammoth w/ 10 Years, James and the Cold Gun

▶7 p.m.

Tropicana Showroom

One Vision of Queen

▶9 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Saturday, March 14

Shaun Cassidy

▶8 p.m.

The Music Box at Borgata

My Generation Tour

▶8 p.m.

Atlantic City Headliners

Peter Lemongello Jr.

▶8 p.m.

The Concert Venue at Harrah’s

Circus Maximus Theatre at Caesars

My Big Gay Italian Wedding

▶8 p.m.

Sound Waves at Hard rock

Winter Jazz Tribute by Tygressa Jones

▶8 p.m.

Superstar Theater at resorts

Saturday, March 21

Brit Floyd

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at Etess Arena

Friday, March 27

Jay Leno w/ Arsenio Hall

▶9 p.m.

Circus Maximus Theatre at Caesars

Saturday, March 28

Switchfoot

▶8 p.m.

The Music Box at Borgata Yacht Rock Revue

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at Etess Arena

Friday, April 3

Andrew Santino

▶8 p.m.

Borgata Event Center

Bert Kreischer

▶9 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Dierks Bentley

▶8 p.m.

Hard rock Live at Etess Arena

Marlon Wayans

▶9 p.m.

Circus Maximus Theatre at Caesars

Tower of Power & War

▶8 p.m.

Tropicana Showroom

Saturday, April 4

Bert Kreischer

▶8 p.m.

Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino

Deon Cole

▶8 p.m.

Borgata Event Center

On Sale This Week

Dogstar

▶Friday, Aug. 14

Sound Waves at Hard rock

Tickets on sale Friday, Mar. 13, 10 a.m.

New GM has Caesars AC upping its showbiz game

The Casino File

By Chuck Darrow

For the first couple decades of Atlantic City’s legal-gaming era, Caesars Atlantic City was an entertainment flagship, constantly hosting many of the top stars of the day, among them Tony Bennett, Bill Cosby, Joan rivers and Jerry Seinfeld, as well as the world premiere of Barry Manilow’s book musical, “Copacabana.” More recently, however, it has ceded that status to Hard rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Casino resort and Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa.

And while the 47-year-old, midtown adult playpen doesn’t necessarily have the facilities to compete with those properties, an upgrade is definitely in the works, according to its recently appointed general man -

ager and senior vice-president

“When you think of Caesars Palace [in Las Vegas], it's still an entertainment-driven, highly engaged property. When you think of Caesars Atlantic City, it has to be in a similar vein. And I think you’ll see that coming down the pike,” declared Jacob Witmer, the Galloway Twp. native who is now run -

ning the show there, during a recent sit-down. “When you look at competing in a market like Atlantic City, entertainment is huge. So, we have to get back into building entertainment that caters to our customers. We're going to start competing [for acts]. We don't see ourselves taking our foot off the gas anytime soon.”

Witmer, whose resume includes positions at what is now Harrah’s resort Atlantic City (where he began his gaming-industry career as a poker dealer), Ocean, Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Caesars Entertainment corporate, Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pa. and a stint in Florida with slot-machine manufacturer AC Coin & Slot, declined to get into specific names he hopes to lure to the gaming hall’s 1,500-seat Circus Maximus theater (affectionately know as “C-Max” among casino employees). But he made it clear that he and his team — with the blessings of Caesars Entertainment regional President Barron Fuller and corporate chief Anthony Carano, whose family sits atop the Caesars Entertainment gaming empire — are ready to rumble when it comes to acquiring talent.

“One of the scary things about me is that I'm not afraid to throw punches,” warned Witmer, whose humor-inflected, shoot-from-the-hip style is a refreshing change from the many conservative, corporate automatons who populate casino C-suites across the country.

Witmer suggested that one way for his casino to up its showbiz game is to leverage the buying power of his corporate parent. “We've never really leaned into that,” he noted. “When you look at the Coliseum [the showplace at Caesars Palace that helped pioneer the megastar casino residency concept] and then you look at the 50-55 properties we have, we can leverage different things with artists.”

A new look at ‘The Hook’

Witmer is particularly high on “The Hook,” the almost-three-year-old, adults-only program that is AyCee’s first and only, year-round resident production show (it’s also the name of the multi-million-dollar venue constructed to house the presentation). As such he expects it to be a key to Caesars success as an entertainment destination.

“‘The Hook’ is a hidden gem,” he said of the program that has evolved into more of a variety show after starting out as a comedic raunch-fest. “I think a lot of people don't realize that there's a lot of talent rotating through there.

“‘The Hook’ is a great entertainment experience. You go in there one day and it's one show, and a couple weeks later, they make a slight change, whether it's an act or whether it's a twist [in the script]. I

think there are a lot of people in the South Jersey area that don't really know what they're missing, but it's a really fun show. It's immersive. It's just a great experience.”

Perhaps the biggest twist of all was Witmer’s announcement that on April 23, the venue will host comedian-podcaster Josh Adam Meyers (tickets available at ticketmaster. com). The booking represents the first time something other than a performance of “The Hook” will be

presented in the room. It’s assumed that if it proves to be successful, there will be more such events there, providing the casino a venue for acts not quite popular enough to headline the big room.

“It’s a really fun, creative way for us to use the space and to see if there's an appetite for a little bit of a different experience,” he reasoned.

Back to the beach

Also on Witmer’s to-do list is the

warm-weather opening of what will be known as the Caesars Beach Club. The debut of the al fresco saloon will mark the casino’s return to the beach-bar concept after some 20 years.

Getting ‘aggressive’

The bottom line is that Caesars — which, over the past few years has seen almost a quarter-billion-dollars’ worth of additions including The Hook theater and the ultra-swank Nobu Hotel-within-a-hotel, and capital improvements like standard-room renovations — is ready to reclaim its former status as a top-tier Atlantic City property.

“The reason why you're going to see all these changes is that this is a far more aggressive management team,” Witmer insisted. “We're not taking that laid-back approach. We love this property; we love what we do.

“And we’re here to actually make this property successful again. The potential is a hundred percent there. And we're here to throw punches. We're not here to be punched.”

Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.

Music headliners abound this weekend at the Jersey Shore

A.C. is still basking in the glow of the over 50,000 attendees for last

weekend’s Atlantic City St. Patrick’s Parade, which featured an array of fine musical talent.

There was the Irish group The Flynns performing, naturally, Irishthemed tunes atop the Dougherty restaurants Group Float, with a huge after-party at one of their properties, The Knife and Fork. There was also the “Moospiracy aboard the Anchor float, with a great after-party concert

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But as the saying goes, there’s much more to come. Check out some of the fine headliners in town at the casinos this weekend.

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Picture Perfect: Historic images of Atlantic City through three lenses

By Bruce Klauber

Those familiar with Atlantic City history are likely aware of Vicki Gold Levi. For more than five decades, Levi has been an Atlantic City historian, curator, collector and booster, as well as the founder of the Atlantic City Historical Museum, and a consultant for

There’s no doubt that the foundation of this visual history begins with her father, Al Gold, the city’s official photographer from 1939 until his passing in 1964.

Many of the historic images we see today, notably the 1952 photograph of Marilyn Monroe as the grand marshal of the Miss America Parade, and the picture of Vicki with “Ol’ Blue Eyes” himself, circa 1950, are his. Many of his timeless images are included in Vicki Gold Levi’s landmark book, “Atlantic City: 125 Years of Ocean Madness.”

the HBO series, “Boardwalk Empire.” Her passion and love for “everything Atlantic City” was captured beautifully via a recent PBS documentary.

Al Gold may have been the city’s “official” photographer, but there were others who captured iconic images of Atlantic City through the years. One of the most unique ones was robert Chester Maxwell, who specialized in different kinds of subject matter –subject matter that he created.

In 1921, he started the Electric Sign Manufacturing Company in Atlantic City. Maxwell’s company specialized in building electric, neon signs – called “spectaculars” in the trade back then – that could be seen on the Boardwalk, amusement piers and elsewhere.

Among his more outstanding and memorable contributions over his four-decade career were a 50-foottall thermometer that served as an ad for the Colgate company, and an

r .C. Maxwell’s photographs of Atlantic City, though memorable, were incidental to what he created.

immense sign for Chesterfield cigarettes that stood atop the Steel Pier for years. That creation had more than 27,000 lightbulbs and was said to be, in the 1920s, the largest sign of its kind in the world.

Thankfully, Maxwell meticulously documented his advertising work, which not only included photos of his singular signs, but also included

images of the surrounding areas where the signs were placed. Those photos were taken for the purpose of showing prospective clients the specific neighborhoods and parts of the Boardwalk where the signs would potentially be placed. The photographs may have been incidental, but they were fabulous.

Maxwell’s more spectacular electric signs of the 1920s were constructed and designed for Squibb’s Dental Cream, Lucky Strike cigarettes, General Electric, and billboards for Cutex, El Producto Cigars and Lorraine Hair Nets (10 cents and fully guaranteed). In the 1930s, Maxwell became more prolific, designing signage for Calvert liquors, Noxzema, Bromo-Seltzer, Camel cigarettes and a billboard for the Steel Pier.

His non-ad images include pictures of rolling chairs, and aerial views of the Boardwalk and beach in the spring and summer. His photos of the Boardwalk during World War II have been reproduced countless times.

Though one might assume that the neon sign advertising business slowed during the war years in the city, that wasn’t the case. That decade brought Maxwell new clients, including Carstairs Whiskey, Seagram’s, Wrigley’s, Philip Morris and new billboards for the Steel Pier.

The early 1950s marked the final chapter of Maxwell’s career, yet remained among his busiest years. Billboards and neon signs included those for Schlitz and Ballantine beers, Sherwin-Williams paints, Four roses liquor and Sea Nymph bathing suits.

Maxwell also branched out and took photos of the Miss America Pageant, and rare images of African-Americans strolling down the Boardwalk. All of them are housed

in the Duke University Library under the title, “Maxwell Did It! Photographing the Atlantic City Boardwalk 1920s-1950s.”

robert Maxwell died at the age of 81 in 1955.

Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt helped define photojournalism via his 2,500 photo stories and 90 Life magazine covers through the years. Perhaps his most famous magazine cover was taken on V-J Day in New York’s Times Square on Aug. 14, 1945. The photo showed an American sailor kissing a nurse in a dancelike dip which, said his 1995 New York Times obituary, “summed up the euphoria many Americans felt as the war came to a close.”

Five years before that iconic photo was published, Eisenstaedt was sent to Atlantic City to, according to Life magazine writer Bill Syken, “chronicle the bustling activity and amusements of the beach town at its peak.”

According to Syken, “In those pictures you’ll see the 1940 Miss America, Frances Burke, who had been crowned the year before at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall, posing with her sash on the beach. You’ll see the crowds at night flocking to the legendary Steel Pier amusement park, while others enjoy fine dining in a grand hotel. You’ll see women wearing bathing caps into the ocean to protect their hairdos, as was common in those days.”

In the acclaimed 1980 film “Atlantic City,” directed by Louis Malle, the small-time mobster played by Burt Lancaster, had nothing but fond memories of days past in the city.

“You should have seen the Atlantic Ocean in those days” was one of Lancaster’s more memorable lines. Thanks to the work of artists like Gold, Maxwell and Eisenstaedt, those good old days live on.

Wine 101: Acid test for wine

Drink Up!

By David Setley

Wine is comprised of four major components: tannins, residual sugar (dryness/ sweetness), alcohol, and acidity. A couple of weeks ago, I discussed tannins. This week, I will discuss acidity. There is much confusion among wine consumers as to the source of acid and what it adds to the wine. Let’s take a deep dive into this topic.

Tartaric, malic, and citric acid are the primary acids present in wine. In the Northern Hemisphere, grapes begin their journey to maturity in March or April, at the stage known as “bud break.” Depending on the growing region, the level of acid present in the grape at this time is sky-high and the sugar level is extremely low. The acid level drops and the sugar level increases through each stage: as grape clusters start to develop (fruit set), when the grape becomes plump and red grapes start to show their color (veraison), through to the harvest (le vendange). Warmer climate varietals with a late harvest, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandels, yield relatively low-acidity wines, while early harvest varietals in cooler climates, such as riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Nebbiolo, and Pinot Noir, have relatively high levels of acidity. More on this later.

On the acid (pH) scale, all wines fall on the acidic side (low pH). For some perspective, water is neutral at a pH of 7; coffee comes in between 4.5 and 5, and cola soft drinks are even more acidic with a pH of approximately 2.5. The lowest-acid red wines have a pH of about 4, and the highest-acid whites have a pH of about 3. Higher-acid wines, in general, are more frequently considered “age-worthy” wines. Although white wines are not often considered for aging, the higher acidity in varietals such as Chardonnay or even riesling allows these wines to age up to 10 years.

However, the most important benefit of acidity in wine is the flavor it adds. In both white and red varietals, acidity adds a level of tartness to the wine’s flavor, often described as crispness or brightness. Just as in cooking, balance in flavor is often a winemaker’s goal. Have you heard

the culinary term “agrodolce”? In effect, it means a combination of sweet and sour. In white wines, particularly, the acidic flavor component adds a complexity of tartness to what may otherwise be a relatively sweet wine. This is why wines such as riesling or Sauvignon Blanc may have the aroma of sweetness but a flavor that is more on the tart side. In red wines, acidity helps to balance tannins in the flavor of the wine. This is why some red wines with lower acidity, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Zinfandel, have flavor structures and a mouthfeel described as round or smooth. reds with higher acidity, such as Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, have structures typically described as complex and layered.

higher acid Sancerre tastes crisper and fresher and makes you salivate more. Hello, acidity!

Now for the acid test. Take a nice sip of whatever wine you have close by and move the drink around your mouth (tongue, gums and palate) before you swallow. If the sides of your tongue are stimulated and you are salivating, you are likely drinking a wine with higher acidity. A high-acid wine, just like a lemon, tends to make you pucker. remember, all wines are on the acidic side of the pH scale as compared to water. The differences are relative. The easiest way to notice differences is through a side-by-side comparison between two wines, one of lower acidity and one of higher.

A white wine that is traditionally relatively low in acidity is Gewurztraminer. My wife’s reminder on how to pronounce this wine is to think of the latter part of the phrase, “boys are dumber, girls are meaner” – no offense intended to my female or male readers! I like the Gewurz from the Domaine Barmes-Buecher in the Alsace region of France. Our higher-acidity contestant is also from Alsace: the Pierre Sparr r iesling. For your comparison, first taste the Gewurztraminer; then try the riesling. Do you notice how the riesling makes you pucker and salivate? Or how it might be described as more fresh, or crisp, than the Gewurztraminer?

Another wonderful higher acid white wine is Sauvignon Blanc, especially those from the Sancerre appellation of the Loire Valley in France. Another lower acid white is Chardonnay, especially from Sonoma, California. Try the Karine Lauverjat Moulin des Vrilleres Sancerre and the Balletto Vineyards Chardonnay from the russian river section of Sonoma, California. Again, notice how the

Next up are the red wines, both from the United States. For a lower-acid wine, pick up the Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley in Washington State. For our higher-acid contestant, try the Montinore Borealis Pinot Noir from Oregon. Both are aged in neutral oak barrels and have smooth tannins.

On to the acid test. The Pinot Noir should make you salivate more, although the tannins in both stimulate the back of your tongue. Notice how the sides of your tongue are more affected by the Pinot Noir. If you prefer, try wines from two classic regions of France, Bordeaux, famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot blended red wines, and Burgundy, equally renowned for its Pinot Noir. Try the La Griffe De Barreyres Bordeaux next to the Thevenet & Fils Bourgogne rouge Les Clos Pinot Noir.

I hope this short discussion on acid has given you a bit more understanding of this complicated wine term. As always, if you have questions or comments, contact me at dsetley@passionvines. com or stop by the Somers Point store. Until next time, happy wining!

David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.

Live & Local Music Calendar

Thursday, March 12

Atlantic City

Anchor Rock Club

Pass/Go w/ Flowmo, Priscilla, & Fattie Bee

8 p.m.

247 S. New York Ave.

Bar One at Resorts

Karaoke w/ DJ Joe

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1133 Boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

Dane Anthony

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Glenn roberts Band

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Egg Harbor Township

A Touch of Italy

Dennis Matthews

5 – 8 p.m.

6629 Black Horse Pike

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay

Karaoke Night w/ DJ Mike

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 Bay Ave.

Gregory’s

Will Murray

6 p.m.

800 Shore rd.

Josie Kelly’s

Toni Teschner & Billy Walton

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Friday, March 13

Atlantic City

Bar One at Resorts

Darryl Gibson

6 – 9 p.m.

DJ Gary

9:15 p.m. – 2 a.m.

1133 Boardwalk

Borgata B Bar

Gypsy Wisdom Trio

7:30 – 11 p.m.

Adam Holcombe Trio

11:30 p.m. – 3 a.m.

1 Borgata Way

Council Oak Lounge at Hard Rock

Andy DiMacle Trio

6 – 10 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Hard Rock Café Isn’t it Always

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino

John McNutt Duo

7 p.m.

Lost in Paris

10 p.m.

500 Boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

Taylor Lenahan Duo

6 p.m.

Big Bang Baby

10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

The Benderz

5 – 8:30 p.m.

First to Eleven

9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk

The Wave at Golden Nugget

Britain’s Finest: Beatles Tribute

9 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

Egg Harbor Township A Touch of Italy

Erik Wozniak

6 – 9 p.m.

6629 Black Horse Pike

↘Continued on 44

The Roost Pub & Grill

Stiffler’s Mom

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

500 St. Andrews Dr.

Galloway

279 Social

Dear Zoe Duo

7 – 10 p.m.

279 S. New York rd.

Fred & Ethel’s Lantern Light

Tony Caine

7 – 10 p.m.

1 N. New York rd.

Margate

Bocca

Jim Shaw

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave.

Maynard’s Cafe

Camille Peruto

6 – 9 p.m.

9306 Amherst Ave.

Tideline

russ Knight

6 – 9 p.m.

9317 Amherst Ave.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay

Twisted Livin’

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 Bay Ave.

Crab Trap

One Hot Mess

6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway

Josie Kelly’s

The Flynn’s

8 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Saturday, March 14

Atlantic City

Anchor Rock Club

Irish Night Tribute w/ Molly ringworm, Pale Shade & Sapwood

8 p.m.

247 S. New York Ave.

Bar One at Resorts

Gerald Esposito

6 – 9 p.m.

DJ Gary

9:15 p.m. – 2 a.m.

1133 Boardwalk

Borgata B Bar

Dan Jost Trio

7:30 – 11 p.m.

Megan Knight Trio

11:30 p.m. – 3 a.m.

1 Borgata Way

Council Oak Lounge at Hard Rock

Vahe & Camille Trio

6 – 10 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Hard Rock Café

Garden State radio

8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino Who Brought the Dog Duo

7 p.m.

Embers the Band

10 p.m.

500 Boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

Steve Moore & MIA Band

5 p.m.

Party Wave

10 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

No Standards

5 – 8:30 p.m.

b

o

e

t h e c u s t o m e r

s e r v i c e w a s

e

First to Eleven

9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1000 Boardwalk

The Wave at Golden Nugget

Don’t Call Me Francis

8 p.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Yard at Bally’s

Not Leaving Sober w/ DJ Vito G

8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

1900 Pacific Ave.

Egg Harbor Township

A Touch of Italy

Brian Kmetz

6 – 9 p.m.

6629 Black Horse Pike

Galloway

279 Social Bar None Duo

7 – 10 p.m.

279 S. New York rd.

Fred & Ethel’s Lantern Light

Chad Miller

7 – 10 p.m.

1 N. New York rd.

McGettigan’s Isn’t it Always

8 – 11 p.m.

500 S. New York rd.

Margate

Maynard’s Cafe

Lenahan Duo

6 – 9 p.m.

9306 Amherst Ave.

Millville

Levoy Theatre

Eaglemania

8 p.m.

126-130 N. High St.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay

Will Murray & Chris 4 – 7 p.m.

The Company

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

450 Bay Ave.

Charlie’s Bar

HeadHigh

8 – 11 p.m.

800 Shore rd.

Crab Trap

One Hot Mess

6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway

Josie Kelly’s

Emerald Isle Academy Irish Dancers

2 p.m. & 6 p.m.

The Turtle Heads

8 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Tuckerton

The Lizzie Rose Music Room

Albert Lee

7:30 p.m.

217 E. Main St.

Sunday, March 15

Atlantic City

Nola’s Bar at Ocean Casino

Dueling Pianos

8 p.m.

500 Boardwalk

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Steve Moore & MIA Band

4 – 7:30 p.m.

The Event Horizon

8:30 – 11:30 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Egg Harbor Township

A Touch of Italy

robert Pollilo

5 – 8 p.m.

6629 Black Horse Pike

Galloway

10th Hole at Pomona

Andy Frankel

1 – 4 p.m.

400 W. Moss Mill rd.

279 Social rob Birnbohm

12 – 3 p.m.

279 S. New York rd.

Margate

Sunrise Tequila Bar

Cole Moore

1 – 4 p.m.

9700 Ventnor Ave.

Millville

Levoy Theatre

The Orchestra

7:30 p.m.

126-130 N. High St.

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay

Sindi raymond Band

4 – 7 p.m.

450 Bay Ave.

Josie Kelly’s

Traditional Irish Session

1 – 4 p.m.

The Jeremy Barnes Band

5 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Tuckerton

The Lizzie Rose Music Room

Billy Walton Band

7:30 p.m.

217 E. Main St.

Monday, March 16

Atlantic City

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

red

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Andrew Moorer Band

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Tuesday, March 17

Atlantic City

Bar One at Resorts

Karaoke w/ Cowboy Kevin

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

1133 Boardwalk

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

Patty & Bugzy

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock

Daddy Pop

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Margate

Bocca

The Flynn’s

5:30 p.m.

7805 Ventnor Ave.

Somers Point

Josie Kelly’s

St Patrick’s Day w/ Tom Brett,

Nae Breeks Pipes & Drums, The Sessioneers, Emerald Isle Academy of Irish Dancers

10 a.m. – close

908 Shore rd.

Wednesday, March 18

Atlantic City

Anchor Rock Club

Vinyl Wednesdays w/ DJ Paige & Julian

8 p.m.

247 S. New York Ave.

Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget

Michael Stevens

8 p.m. – 12 a.m.

600 Huron Ave.

The Lobby Bar at Hard Rock Cat 5

7 – 11 p.m.

1000 Boardwalk

Somers Point

Caroline’s by the Bay

Open Mic Night w/ Blue Eagle

7:30 – 11:30 p.m.

450 Bay Ave.

Crab Trap

One Hot Mess

6 – 9 p.m.

2 Broadway

Josie Kelly’s

Jimmy Brogan

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

908 Shore rd.

Events subject to change.

One brisket, two traditions: The double life of corned beef

Pass it Down: Family Favorites

By Lisa Zaslow Segelman

One of the great pleasures of living in the American melting pot is getting to share in each other’s traditions. St. Patrick’s Day is a perfect example. Across the country, people of many backgrounds sit down to a plate of corned beef and cabbage –the hearty Irish-American meal that has become the holiday’s signature dish.

For me, corned beef carries another meaning, too. As a Jewish American, it’s firmly rooted in my own food memories.

During my teenage years working four summers at Lou’s of Ventnor, I must have served thousands of deli classics – towering, corned

beef sandwiches on rye, piled high with coleslaw and r ussian dressing. We waitresses (no one was a server in the 1970s) wrote “CB r Slaw r ussian” on our order pads. At the time I never thought much about how the same cured brisket that defined Jewish deli culture, also anchored the most Irish of American holiday meals.

Each year I take advantage of the corned beef that begins appearing at bargain prices in supermarkets toward the end of February. I make the traditional corned beef and cabbage in honor of our Irish-American neighbors and their history. Then the leftovers begin their second act – sliced thin and piled high on rye for lunches, or even dinner later in the week.

An Irish-American creation

corned beef and cabbage comes straight from the Emerald Isle, the version we celebrate every March is an Irish-American creation.

A meeting of food traditions

When large waves of Irish immigrants arrived in American cities in the mid-1800s, many settled in neighborhoods alongside Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Jewish butchers and delicatessens specialized in cured brisket – corned beef. The name “corned” refers to the large grains, or “corns,” of salt used in the curing process.

While many people assume

In Ireland, the traditional pairing was bacon and cabbage. Pork was far more common and affordable than beef. Salted pork simmered with cabbage and potatoes was a familiar meal; beef, on the other hand, was expensive and often reserved for export.

For Irish immigrants looking to recreate the comforting boiled dinners they remembered, corned beef proved to be a flavorful and affordable substitute for the pork they had used back home. Slowly simmered with cabbage and potatoes, the result felt both familiar and new – an Irish-American dish inspired by the food traditions of their Jewish neighbors.

↘Continued on 48

Over time, corned beef and cabbage became firmly associated with Irish-American celebrations, especially St. Patrick’s Day.

One brisket, two traditions

Corned beef lives comfortably in two culinary worlds. On March 17 it anchors the classic Irish-American dinner of corned beef and cabbage. The next day, those same leftovers may find their way onto rye bread –piled high with coleslaw and russian dressing in the style of a Jewish deli sandwich.

For me, that second act is almost as good as the first.

In a country built by immigrants, perhaps that’s the best recipe of all: one brisket, two traditions, and a delicious reminder that some of America’s most beloved dishes are the result of cultures meeting at the table.

Jersey Shore Twist: BeerBraised Corned Beef and Cabbage

Around the Jersey Shore, many home cooks add a bottle of beer to the pot when making corned beef and cabbage – often a dark Irish stout – giving the broth and vegetables a deeper, richer flavor.

Ingredients

● 3-4 lbs. corned beef brisket with

spice packet

● 1 bottle beer (lager or stout)

● 4 cups water

● 1 onion, quartered

● 3-4 carrots, cut into chunks

● 1½ lbs. small red or Yukon gold potatoes

● 1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges

Directions

Place the corned beef in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the spice packet, onion, beer and enough water to cover the meat.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently, covered, for about 2½ to 3 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.

Add the potatoes and carrots and cook for 15 minutes. Add the cabbage wedges and continue cooking another 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

remove the corned beef and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Cut the meat against the grain and serve with the cabbage, potatoes and carrots, spooning some of the flavorful broth over the top.

Leftover corned beef is perfect for sandwiches on rye with coleslaw and russian dressing.

Prefer to celebrate at the pub?

If you’d rather leave the cooking to

someone else, several Jersey Shore pubs and taverns will be serving corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day.

Atlantic County

● Josie Kelly’s Public House – 908 Shore road, Somers Point, 609-904-6485

● The Irish Pub – 164 St. James Place, Atlantic City, 609344-9063

● Fitzpatrick’s Deli & Steakhouse – 650 New road, Somers Point, 609-6538155

● The Anchorage Tavern & Restaurant – 823 Bay Ave., Somers Point, 609-926-1776

Cape May County

● Delaney’s Irish Pub – 400 Washington St., Cape May, 609-8841879

● O’Donnell’s Pour House – 3915 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City, 609263-5600

● The Bellevue Tavern – 7 S. Main St., Cape May Court House, 609463-1738

For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way: good

health, good luck and happiness, for today and every day. May your table always be full – and the leftovers even better the next day.

Lisa is an advertising copywriter (think “Mad Men” without the men), journalist and columnist. Claim to fame: Lou’s waitress for four teenage summers –where corned beef on rye was practically a food group. For column comments, story ideas, or to get on her “quote list” for future columns: redshoeslzs@ gmail.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Greate Bay County Club, Somers Point, NJ

Join us for a spectacular luncheon, a thrilling tango competition, featuring excerpts from the upcoming ballet “Carmen”

Purchase Your Tickets Now at GiveButter.com/cCnwbp

BECOME A DANCE CONTESTANT

We are seeking 10 individuals as Tango Competition contestants. You’ll be teamed with Atlantic City Ballet professionals and receive 5 tango lessons to perform in the Tango Competition for prizes.

To apply, contact: Claire Collins, Vice President, AC Ballet Board cncollins3@verizon.net  |  609-703-2081

New owners bring fresh energy to a Northfield favorite

Business Buzz

By Rich Baehrle

Afamiliar neighborhood favorite in Northfield has entered a new chapter.

Chico & Sons, located at 1620 Tilton road, recently welcomed new ownership, bringing fresh energy and new ideas to one of the area’s popular casual dining spots.

Local realtor Goran Cedevski of Berkshire Hathaway Fox & roach had heard that the previous owner might be open to selling the wellknown eatery. One of Goran’s clients, Alexander, had been searching for a restaurant opportunity so Chico & Sons quickly rose to the top of the list.

After touring the restaurant, Alexander expressed strong interest, but with one condition. He told Goran he

would only pursue the purchase if Goran agreed to join him as a partner.

What started as a traditional client- realtor relationship soon turned into a business partnership.

Today the restaurant is owned by Goran and his wife, Alexandra, along with Alexander and his wife, Zoryana.

While none of the partners come from a restaurant background, they bring strong business experience, marketing knowledge and entrepreneurial energy to the venture. They officially took over the restaurant on Jan. 1, 2026.

Their goal has been to preserve what made Chico & Sons popular in the first place, while gradually enhancing the overall experience.

The menu continues to offer a wide variety of favorites, including hot and cold subs, soups, appetizers and fresh-made pizza. Their cheesesteaks remain the top seller, and the new owners have recently begun expanding the menu to include dinner entrées, providing even more options for customers.

Goran Cedevski himself represents an American success story. He immigrated to the United States from Macedonia in Eastern Europe in 2001, originally planning to pursue studies in dentistry. When financial challenges forced him to change course, he began working in the hospitality industry at the Holiday Inn restaurant in Atlantic City. He eventually transitioned into the casino industry, where he spent 13 years at Caesars Entertainment in various roles, including as a dual-rated dealer. Those years helped him develop a strong foundation in customer service and hospitality, skills which helped shape both his real estate career and now his approach to running a restaurant.

Goran's wife, Alexandra, brings to the business a background in finance and social media marketing. Together they have two children – Darius and Melanie. The family hopes the kids may become involved during the summer months, helping make Chico & Sons a true family-run

business.

Alexander, who has a finance background, manages many of the operational aspects of the restaurant, including ordering, scheduling and day-to-day management.

Customers will notice that many familiar faces remain behind the counter. The restaurant’s team of 10 to 12 employees has stayed on board, helping ensure continuity and the welcoming atmosphere customers have come to expect.

Northfield continues to be one of Atlantic County’s most appealing communities – a place where local businesses thrive and residents proudly support neighborhood establishments. With its convenient location, loyal customer base and enthusiastic new ownership team, Chico & Sons appears well positioned to continue serving the community for years to come.

If you haven’t visited recently, now may be the perfect time to stop in and see what the buzz is about. And remember to support local businesses, especially small businesses.

Rich Baehrle, of Berkshire Hathaway Fox and Roach, can be reached at 609-226-6680 or 609-641-0011. Email richardbaehrle@gmail.com or see www.getrichinrealestateSJ.com

Preparing for the French Fleet that never came

This is the second in a two-part series about a little-known secret Revolutionary War mission in South Jersey involving General George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, the French Fleet and a plan to attack the British in New York City.

By Max Slusher

Ifrom Chestnut Neck – a haven for privateers and smugglers who captured goods from British cargo ships and sent them on to markets and the army.

The quickest route to Batsto from Cape May was up old Shore road to Beesleys Point Ferry, across the Great Egg Harbor Bay to Somers Point and Somers Mansion and continuing up Shore road in Gloucester County (present-day Atlantic County) to Chestnut Neck (present-day Port republic).

n October of 1779, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, and Brigadier General Louis Lebègue Duportail left West Point, New York, and traveled to Philadelphia en route to Lewes, Delaware. Convinced that a better location for making contact with the French Fleet was across the Delaware Bay in New Jersey, the officers arranged for a crossing to the southern tip of Cape May County.

From Chestnut Neck there were dirt paths that ran up the Mullica river to the Forks and from there to Batsto. With a bit of luck, the general and colonel could pay for a barge to take them upriver with the incoming tide, a vital consideration which would allow the officers to analyze the river and its environs.

Duportail, commandant of the Continental Corps of Engineers; and Hamilton, aide to General George Washington, were headed for the Batsto, known then as Bat Stove. The location and its amenities were important and well-known to the Continental Army.

Batsto was an iron forge and village that supplied the army with vital supplies including musket balls. It stood near the Forks of the Mullica river, where cargo traveled upriver

A route across the Great Egg Harbor into Somers Point would allow Duportail and Hamilton to meet with Colonel richard Somers, commander of the 3rd Gloucester Militia, and the officer responsible for security in the Egg Harbors, the barrier islands, the bays and up the rivers. Colonel Somers’ assistance was vital to the officers’ mission of linking up with the French Fleet, securing maritime pilots, identifying fresh water and

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food supplies, and securing the cooperation of the local people and militia.

As circumstances would have it, in the fall of 1779 a direct route up Shore road was dangerous for senior Continental officers in uniform. refugees, the name given to loyalist militia who were ostensibly in the service of the king, were very active in the Egg Harbors. reports circulated of attacks by loyalists in flatboats on shipping up the Egg Harbor river, a recent attack on the Absecon Salt Works and various skirmishes in the area. Additionally, the British Navy and loyalist privateers were active along the barrier islands and immediately offshore.

refugees or irregulars were motivated by fierce patriotism, profit, and often revenge. Continental officers were wanted dead or alive.

With such concerns in mind, Duportail and Hamilton changed course to transit to Batsto via the interior backroads and trails, turning inland, possibly in the vicinity of Dennis Township, and proceeding to the historic town of Tuckahoe, across the Tuckahoe river to what is today route 50, then up to the Great Egg Harbor river to Mays Landing. At this point, Duportail and Hamilton traveled for a day along 44 miles of ever-narrowing roads and paths, highlighted by dense pine and cedar

forests with occasional farms and homesteads, but more often across creeks and streams.

Earlier cartographers had labeled parts of the Egg Harbor area the “Great Sandy Desert,” a region considered in the late 1600s to be inhospitable to settlement except along rivers and streams. Arrival at Mays Landing left 18 more miles of travel to reach Batsto.

Duportail and Hamilton wrote to Washington on Oct. 26 to report on their location and situation. It was

addressed from the “Great Egg Harbour Landing.” The location was likely Mays Landing.

“We have since fixed on this place about forty-four miles from the extremity of Cape May (or eighteen miles short of the Batsto Furnace, which we found to be more remote than had been represented) and as far as we can learn from 100 to 110 miles of Sandy Hook - about fifty from Philadelphia.”

Duportail and Hamilton provide in the same letter important informa -

tion to Washington to justify their stop at the “Great Egg Harbour Landing” and not continuing on to what may have been a previously discussed positioning at Batsto.

“Your Excellency will easily perceive the reasons of our choosing this station. Admiral d’Estaing would not lose time by a procedure of this sort, but might content himself with sending some transports under escort of a few frigates to receive the provisions for the fleet and proceed himself directly on to Sandy Hook... These considerations induced us to cross the Delaware and take the position at which we now are, where, or in the vicinity, we propose to remain till the arrival of the Count, till intelligence from him decides the inutility of a longer stay, or till we receive your Excellency’s orders of recall... If the fleet should appear off the Delaware we can be there in twelve hours after its first appearance, and if at the Hook in less than four days.”

Given the training, experience and caliber of these officers, the several-week period that Duportail and Hamilton spent in the Mays Landing area would have been spent doing reconnaissance of the region. Hiring local pilots based on the recommendations from local leadership

↘Continued on 54

required meeting with the leaders and local pilots, especially the local militia leadership.

Documenting the local road system and waterways that would serve as the primary supply lines into New Jersey harbors, especially in areas not previously visited by senior Continental officers, required eyes-on reconnaissance to meet Washington’s exacting standards.

In the end, an invasion of New York City was not to be. Admiral d’Estaing, in concert with the southern Continental Army forces under the command of Major General Benjamin Lincoln, besieged and assaulted the

British entrenchments around Savannah on Oct. 9. The outcome was a devastating loss for the French and Continental Army. Over 800 allied forces were killed or wounded. Brigadier Casimer Pulaski, commander of the Continental Cavalry, was mortally wounded and Admiral d’Estaing was wounded sufficiently to merit his return to France.

The British had held Savannah since late 1778, and New York City since 1776. The British Army and Navy were well prepared for an expected assault by General Washington and the Continental Army.

The defeat at Savannah may have been a blessing for the French and

Continental armies. Vice Admiral d’Estaing took part of his fleet back to France, laden with wounded, while sending the remainder to the Caribbean to defend the valuable islands that Europe viewed as the true crown jewels of the Americas.

Without the French Fleet and Army, a successful attack on New York City was impossible. It was also late in the season. Though Washington demonstrated competence in winter campaigning, the army and logistics required for an assault on New York City were simply not sustainable during the frigid winters of the late 1700s. With the loss of d’Estaing’s fleet, Duportail and Hamilton were recalled to West Point to resume their regular duties.

Ferry were among Washington’s early objectives in the plan to take New York City. They were abandoned without losing a single soldier in direct assaults on these prepared positions.

Though the withdrawals made sense for the British to bolster New York City defenses, in upcoming offensive actions in the southern colonies, the advantages to the Continentals were multifold.

The Continental Army quickly reoccupied Newport, and during the 1780 summer campaign season, the French Fleet used Newport as an operating port and supply base. The Continental Army occupied Stony Point and Kings Ferry.

Cape May County and the Egg Harbors are an interesting chapter in the story of the American revolution. In the fall of 1779, southern New Jersey could have been a significant player in Washington’s attack on New York City if he ever made one.

Though Washington’s plans for attacking New York City were never implemented, two intended objectives of Washington’s plan were achieved. In late October of 1779, the British abandoned both the deep-water port of Newport, rhode Island, and Stony Point and Kings Ferry to the south of West Point. The British troops were needed to reinforce the southern colonies and New York City itself. The British also abandoned Sandy Hook, across the bay from the city, further reinforcing the city garrison.

Newport, Stony Point and Kings

As history would later record, on Nov. 25, 1783, General Washington and the Continental Army marched into New York City on the heels of the British Army’s withdrawal, as per the Treaty of Paris, which ended the revolutionary War. New York City was reoccupied without battle and bloodshed – the best possible outcome for any general and army.

Teaching puppies how to self-soothe

By Heidi Clayton

While it is tempting to spend every waking moment with a new puppy, the reality is that you simply won’t be able to do that. One of the biggest life lessons a breeder can instill in their puppies is the confidence needed to self-soothe and handle being alone. For most puppies, the first time they are alone and separated from their littermates is when they leave for their new homes. This can be overwhelming for them in general, getting accustomed to their new life, and they will now be expected to spend time all alone without company.

Puppies are very social creatures. They absolutely need to interact with other dogs and people to become well-adjusted dogs. However, at some point, you will need to leave the house, and they will have to be alone,

hopefully crated or contained for their own safety. My practice with my puppies, to help send them to their new homes better prepared for their new life, uses dog exercise pens to start getting them used to periods of confinement. I have three pens set up in various rooms and have placed crates in each one. I start with very short periods of alone time for each puppy while I am in the house, just not in the same room. I put toys and appropriate chews in there with them. In addition, I bring them breakfast or dinner there, so they have a positive association with being separated from everyone. If you have an older puppy, I do suggest using exercise pens to start the crate-training process when you first bring them home.

Set up the exercise pen with their crate inside it, and start feeding them their meals in the pen. reward them for being quiet and settled when leaving the room, keeping their time alone short and sweet. I start by leaving the room for just a few minutes and returning with treats. Sometimes I even join them in the pen for a cuddle or play session after I return. If your puppy whines or cries, it may

be tempting to free them, but please resist, as doing so will teach them that carrying on gets them things. Instead, stand a few feet away from the pen with treats ready and reward them when they settle themselves down. As they start to understand that they are OK, I will place them into their crates with treats or a bone and close the door for a few minutes. Most puppies by this time understand that they are going to live and that

you will return. It is important that when you start leaving your puppy alone, you do so with no fanfare. Try not to get into the habit of telling them they will be OK and that you are leaving or making a big fuss when you return. Calm, cool and collected exits and entrances go a long way to preventing separation anxiety and giving your puppy the feeling of “Oh, my God, they are leaving me.” Always try and wait to free the puppy when they have settled down on their own from an exciting return home.

raising a confident, well-adjusted puppy starts with teaching your puppy to relax on their own. It can be easy if you stick to a routine and reward them heavily along the way.

name. Email questions to heidi@ fouronthefloordogtraining. net or learn more at https:// fouronthefloordogtraining.net

Straight Shot to Success: local woman makes farm a community destination

By Delaney Crawford

Within the last year, Shelby McCardell has not only learned the ins and outs of agriculture, farming, and handling livestock, but has also turned what started as a few animals on her land into a successful business, attracting people from near and far eager to visit.

Straight Shot Farm, located at 222 Odessa Ave. in Egg Harbor City, is home to cattle, which are at the heart of everything they do. From mini Highlands to larger breeds like Simmental and Hereford, Straight Shot is a cow and calf operation focused on raising quality cattle and beef production.

But beyond the livestock, what really defines the farm is the experience.

McCardell purchased the land with her husband just last October, and about a year ago, she began slowly building what would become Straight Shot Farm. At first, it wasn’t a grand plan. It was her simply trying something new.

“It started small and honestly, unintentionally. We moved onto land and I began with corn, vegetables, and chickens because I thought that’s what farming was supposed to look like, then I brought home three goats, and something clicked,” McCardell said. “One decision led to another, and slowly it grew into a full cattle operation. I had never driven a tractor. I didn’t know how to move cattle. I didn’t come from agriculture. I just kept learning as I went and trusting my instincts.”

As her livestock grew, so did her audience. McCardell began sharing snippets of her days on TikTok and other social media platforms, and before long, people were falling in love with her animals and lifestyle right along with her.

“I never had the intention of being in the agriculture tourism sphere, I never even really knew it was a thing, but people kept reaching out on social media to come see the animals and would even show up to the farm stand hours, thinking they could

come see and pet them,” McCardell said. “After this kept happening, I realized people literally just wanted to come see my animals, so I gave the people what they wanted and started hosting Open Farms.”

Now, McCardell offers Open Farm times, where visitors can come interact with her cows, goats, donkeys and chickens. Guests pay a fee and spend however long they’d like wandering around, petting and feeding the animals.

The Open Farms have grown immensely in popularity. During her twoday Valentine’s Day event, over 1,000 people flocked to hug and feed her furry friends. McCardell plans to host two special themed Open Farms each month to keep this momentum going.

She credits the farm’s success to authenticity.

“I think when you put your whole heart into something, people can feel that without you having to say it. It’s deeply personal and authentic. What you see is what you get here. This isn’t a staged attraction, it’s real life,” McCardell said. “I think people feel that they’re stepping into something genuine, not something manufactured. Everyone who comes here feels like a friend, and that matters to me.”

In addition to creating something unique for the community, McCardell is building a new way of life for her family. Straight Shot Farm is 100% hers, from day-to-day operations to all major decisions, but she credits her husband, Doug, as a constant support system, always there to help.

Their five-year-old son is growing up alongside the animals and alongside his mom’s newfound dream, experiencing things not many kids his age get to.

The trio spends their days among the livestock, learning as they go and

sharing the journey with the community and on social media.

McCardell said she learned how to run the farm by doing it. “There was no formal training and no agricultural background. I didn’t know how to do anything, but I fell in love with the process, even on the hard days. I am always learning something new and that’s really rewarding.”

She hopes that as she continues learning, others can learn alongside

Elisa Jo Eagan

her. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions, see the care behind the animals, and watch in real time how a farm like this operates during any and all Open Farm times or specialty events hosted there.

Whether it’s agricultural education, photography sessions, shopping the farm stand, Open Farm experiences, or selling livestock, McCardell wants people to feel the intention, growth and learning behind it all.

Anyone planning on cuddling with the cows, feeding the goats or petting the donkeys is welcome at Straight Shot Farm. According to McCardell, she aims to make everyone feel comfortable, connected, and maybe even a little inspired.

Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.

3/31/26

3/31/26

GLORY TOOTSIE GREMLINS COCKTAIL SEVEN SHREK AVATAR MOONSTRUCK SPEED SCARFACE BABE RUDY PREDATOR HOOSIERS GOLDFINGER CADDYSHACK ALIEN ELF AIRPLANE VACATION SUPERMAN MISERY ROCKY BATMAN CLUELESS POLTERGEIST ALADDIN GOODFELLAS HALLOWEEN GHOST TITANIC CINDERELLA JAWS

SUDOKU

ACROSS

1. Anti-seniors sentiment

6. ____ Pérignon, Champagne

9. Big Bang's original matter

13. Prefix for earliest

14. Call to Maria

15. Bob and ____

DOWN

1. Cornelius of the movies

2. Snap up

3. 'I' in Greek alphabet

4. Howard of radio fame

5. Death-related

6. One of the Earnhardts

16. "Peter, Peter Pumpkin ____"

17. "Le ____ des cygnes"

18. Like yesteryear

19. *Greta Gerwig's Oscar nominated movie

21. *He's nominated for playing Leonard Bernstein

23. Nothing

24. White ____ shopping event

25. Federal food safety agency, acr.

28. It ran away with the spoon

30. rOTC happenings

35. Figure skating jump

37. Grad

39. Arrogant one

40. Archaic preposition

41. Passé

43. Scrubbed

44. Sugarcoating

46. Money in Mexico City

47. What DJs do

48. Trickery

50. Swerves

52. Sigma Alpha Epsilon

53. *Typical number of nominations in one Oscar category

55. Emergency responder, acr.

57. *"Nyad" nominee

60. *What kind of moon?

63. "Finnegan's Wake" author

64. Mother load offering

66. Java cotton tree

68. Artemis' companion

69. Fat of olives

70. *What actors do

71. Spinner's product

72. Wisecrack

73. Like Phoenix

7. Spermatozoa counterparts

8. Muhammad's birthplace

9. review service, with .com

10. Use a ladle

11. At any time

12. *"No Country for Old ____" multi Oscar winner

15. Suitors

20. Trojan War story

22. "Just an ____-fashioned love song"

24. Slumber

25. Fl., as in fl. oz.

26. "A Confederacy of ____," sing.

27. Place above a ceiling

29. Dueler's strike

31. Overnight lodgings

32. Shoelace bunny ears

33. Divine saying

34. *Producer and star of "Poor Things"

36. *"The ____ of Interest"

38. Table hill

42. Wooden pin

45. *Like nominated ones

49. Love-love, e.g.

51. Meat-cooking contraption

54. roaring of an engine

56. Hindu religious teacher

57. Forum, pl.

58. Deed hearing

59. Medical diagnostic test

60. Abe Lincoln's hat material

61. #20 Down, e.g.

62. Traditional learning method

63. *Da'Vine ____ randolph

65. Orinoco or Grande

67. *r yan Gosling's character

See Solution on Page 63

By Eric Reich

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, as the saying goes. Well, when it comes to retirement, men and women are often very different in their needs. For starters, research shows that women are better investors than men. Why? Because women are less likely to feel overconfident in their investment decisions and tend to make fewer changes to their portfolios as a result. Women, however, have a unique set of issues in retirement that often makes them more vulnerable than men. The issues women face can make it harder for them to have an enjoyable retirement without careful planning. These issues include, among other things:

1. Longer life expectancy

Women, on average, live longer than men. This means that they have to

plan on making sure their savings last longer as well. A 65-year-old woman can expect to live about 2 ½ years longer than a 65-year-old man. Depending on your expenses, this can add up to a significant amount of money. Overall, women live nearly 5 years longer than men, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since women tend to live longer, that means they are more likely to live alone later in life, and therefore are likely to have to pay all of the expenses by themselves as opposed to sharing those expenses with a spouse.

2. Caring for an aging parent

It’s of little surprise that the person most likely to take care of an aging parent is their daughter. According to AArP, 61% of caregivers are women versus 39% men. Worse, nearly half of those women have had an adverse effect on their own finances as a result. The number of family caregivers has increased by 20 million from 2015 to 2025. Worse still, 6% more are caring for more than one person. This data tells me that the financial burden being placed on these women will continue to increase dramatically in the coming years. Women aged 50 and older who leave their jobs in order to care for an

aging parent miss out on an average of $324,000 in pay, according to the Women’s Institute for a Secure retirement.

3. Working fewer years

Women typically work fewer years than men due to raising a family, resulting in less savings in retirement plans. Fewer savings and a longer life expectancy can translate into a much less secure retirement.

4. Women typically receive less Social Security

Factors such as fewer working years and gender pay inequality mean that women often receive less Social Security. As a result, women receive,

on average, nearly $4,000 per year less than men, according to the Social Security Administration. Delaying benefits might help offset some of this reduced income, if you have enough savings to wait to collect your benefits.

So, what can women do in order to help make their retirement more secure?

For starters, meet with a financial planner to discuss your retirement goals. Having a good understanding of what you want retirement to look like is the first key step. Next, look for ways to maximize your retirement savings. Increase your contribution rates every year, even by a small amount. Try to delay collecting Social Security benefits in order to maximize your income. Your planner can help with these calculations to see when the optimal time to collect could be. Lastly, look to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), if possible, in order to mitigate the potentially higher medical expenses that go along with increased longevity.

Women have unique challenges in retirement and therefore, should plan out their own strategy instead of just heeding conventional wisdom. register for our Women & Wealth Monthly Workshops by visiting https://www. reichassetmanagement.com/events. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Reich Asset Management, LLC is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation. To view form CRS visit https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures.

Eric is President and founder of Reich Asset Management, LLC. He relies on his 25 years of experience to help clients have an enjoyable retirement. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®) and has earned his Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations.

Duffy Rising sign horoscopes for March 12 – 18

Aries: Intend to discover new ways to tap into the collective unconscious. Learning the language of the cosmos is possible. Simply slow down and quiet your mind enough to listen.

Taurus: Intend to manifest your true community. “Think globally, act locally” is a good mantra to repeat this week. Alignment with like-minded people can elevate you.

Gemini: Intend to have your professional life satisfy your soul. Work that makes a difference and helps others is your authentic calling. Devise a plan, and write it into your own stars.

Cancer: Intend to start seeking an adventure or studies that feel like a pilgrimage. Consider what is spiritually fulfilling and brings you more in tune with yourself. Expansion is key.

Leo: Intend to take more deep dives into the parts of you that you shun. Be mindful of tendencies to avoid the shadow. Instead, face it without fear and embrace it with love.

Virgo: Intend to grow even more compassion for the people in your life you hold most dearly. Your relationships have been a source of many lessons. Bonds strengthen with being grateful.

Weekly Horoscopes

Libra: Intend to invite more presence and a general “go with the flow” approach into your every day. Feeling good in and connected to your vessel brightens your day all around.

Scorpio: Intend to channel the truly limitless creative force that flows through you. Surrender control and be open to whatever presentation forms. Joyfully share it with the world!

Sagittarius: Intend to weave your authenticity into every thread of your foundation. Home is in your heart, and your heart is a gift to yourself and to others. Express it fearlessly.

Capricorn: Intend to fully realize and utilize the power of your voice. You may find that relying on trusted confidants will assist you in the process. Have faith and be bold.

Aquarius: Intend to empower yourself by improving your relationship with your resources. Be an active participant in the daily energy exchange with your “stuff,” including your finances.

Pisces: Intend to be more embodied. Being less embodied during emotional overwhelm is a Piscean tendency. Sensitivity is one of your greatest gifts. Mindfulness practices can be helpful.

Weekly astrology summary:

The cosmic bookend of the week arrives on Wednesday, March 18, as the final new moon in the final zodiac sign closes out the astrological year. It occurs at 9:23 p.m. in the late degrees of Pisces, which motivates us to set powerful intentions that are infused with spiritual growth, trust in the unknown, and expansion of consciousness. Learning the language of that which we can sense yet not fully see is one of the greatest gifts of this new moon, as magician Mercury is omnipresent in its overall vibe. There’s a destiny undertone, guiding us to be fearless in taking action to allow the soul or the spirit to lead the way. Orchestrated by Jupiter, this new moon has a lovely energy with great potential.

See the above horoscope for your rising sign for more specific insight and guidance. If you’re unsure what your rising sign is, you can email me at ursaalchemy@gmail.com, learn more in my tutorial video on my Ursa Alchemy YouTube channel, or cast your own birth chart for free on astro.com.

Ursula Duffy is a Professional Astrologer, Certified Aromatherapist and founder of Ursa Alchemy. Find her astrology readings and astrological aromatherapy services, teachings, podcast, get in touch and more at www.ursaalchemy.com or ursaalchemy@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026

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