Storms not as hard on Jersey Shore as MTV

Nor'easter/snowstorm leaves most dunes untouched - Asbury Park Press
Shore beaches escaped major erosion damage - The Inky
The snow storms that have blasted the mid-Atlantic have not been too hard on the Jersey Shore. There has been erosion, but none of it is particularly troubling.

Since I am on the topic of the Shore, I figure I ought to offer my thoughts on MTV's "Jersey Shore", a "reality" show featuring six idiots (only one of whom is actually from New Jersey) summering in Seaside Heights. I didn't watch it. I'm not going to watch it, I've got better things to do than watch an over-tanned hobbit. I am choosing to believe that this is just another example of scaring people away from NJ so those of us who know how great it is won't be bothered by newcomers. Yes, I'm linking to the Evan Paradox Macbeth Turnpike piece again.

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Places I went in 2009

Every year I do a tally of places I have been. The two ways for a location to qualify -- I had a meal there (non-fast food) or spent the night there. Sometimes, I make exceptions that rule though, like for apple-picking.

Alexandria, Va.
Arlington, Va.
Falls Church, Va.
Great Falls, Va.
McLean, Va.
Purcellville, Va.
Reston, Va.
Vienna, Va.
Washington, D.C.
Newark, Del.
Ellicot City, Md.
Avalon, N.J.
Stone Harbor, N.J.
Wildwood, N.J.
New York, N.Y.
Boiling Springs, Pa.
Burnham, Pa.
Harrisburg, Pa.
Lewistown, Pa.
Reedsville, Pa.
Yeagertown, Pa.
Springfield, Pa.
State College, Pa.
Tannersville, Pa.
University Park, Pa.

The list has been getting shorter for the last couple of years. Here is to a more adventurous 2010!

Labels: Arlington, BeltwayLand, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, The District, Travel, Vienna, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Another Rutgers to the Big Ten suggestion

DAVID JONES - Big Ten expansion talk? Again? - Patriot-News
The Big Ten is looking at adding a 12th team again, but only over the next 12-18 months. The list of candidates is numerous but there is not another Penn State-type school out there that brings the complete package of tradition, academics, fanbase, new territory and television market to the table. Obviously, they'd love to add Notre Dame, but that seems unlikely unless NBC loses interest in broadcasting Fighting Irish home games. Jones thinks Rutgers is the best possible choice as it gets the latter two -- the populous state of New Jersey as well as the gigantic New York television market. He oversells the campus (I've been there and it reminded me of George Mason) though. Rutgers football tradition pretty much amounts to two things, albeit great ones -- birthplace of college football and Paul Robeson. I think Rutgers would be hard-pressed to do any better in the Big Ten than the Big East, so I would be surprised if they accept an invitation.

It would be nice having a natural rivalry for the Nittany Lions though.

Jones also points out why Pitt and West Virginia don't make a lot of sense (no significant new TV markets and they don't fit the Big Ten profile for campus or academics, respectively) to add. I don't have strong feelings about it frankly and think in the end, the Big Ten is going to conclude that there is no ideal 12th team.

Penn State, Nittany Lions, college football Rutgers, BigTen

Labels: New Jersey, PSU Football 2009

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posted by WFY @ 5:53 AM | |

NJ Nets: Biggest losers on two tabloid backpages, NBA

The New Jersey Nets lost their 18th game in a row to start the 2009-2010 NBA season. The ignominious distinction is observed by the backpages of both New York City tabloids today.

I like to think this is happening because the Nets took "NEW JERSEY" off of the road uniforms. Their owner, Bruce Ratner, has been trying to move them to Brooklyn for years and seems to be getting closer. I'd rather they stay in the Garden State and move into the Prudential Center in Newark where the NHL Devils play.

I wonder if the new BS Sports Blog will comment on this development.

Speaking of the NBA, the Washington Wizards have won 4 of 5 (The Post). Where can I get my Earl Boykins jersey?

New York Tabloids, Daily News, New York Post, NJ Nets, New Jersey

Labels: Media, New Jersey, Tabloids, Wizards/NBA

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posted by WFY @ 12:05 PM | |

Jersey Shore pummeled by Nor'easter, Ida

Time to clean up at Jersey Shore - The Inky
Northeaster reminds area that bad weather can soak economy - The Press, Atlantic City
My beloved Jersey Shore got hit hard by the remnants of Hurricane Ida/Nor'easter late last week. From Long Beach Island all the way to the south, there was major erosion and flooding. Avalon lost a lot of beach in the northern part of the borough. Landis Ave, the main drag of Sea Isle City, was flooded too.

It is only November, so there is time to clean up and get everything ready for summer -- so long as no other big storms come by. It is only November...

Jersey Shore, NJ, New Jersey, nor'easter

Labels: New Jersey, Weather

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

The Trenton Makes The World Takes bridge

TRENTON, N.J. -- One of my favorite parts of the ride up the Northeast Corridor is crossing the Delaware River and seeing the "TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES" sign on the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge. Ironically, the bridge is free, but is supported by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

The neon sign, erected in 1935, celebrates Trenton's industrial legacy. I don't know how industrial Trenton still is but Taylor Pork Roll comes from there and that's good enough for me. It is also the state capital of New Jersey.

Oddly enough, I have been a legal resident of New Jersey and Virginia and I had never so much as set foot in either state capital until this last jaunt up the Northeast Corridor. On the way back, I hopped off the platform and snapped a quick photo on the platform of the Trenton train station. That probably marked the first time since 1979 that I had set foot in the Garden State on three consecutive Saturdays. As for Richmond, maybe someday, no rush.

TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES, Trenton, New Jersey, NJ, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge

Labels: Datelines, New Jersey, Northeast Corridor, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

A poor attempt at "What Exit?"

STONE HARBOR, N.J. -- I give credit to those in New Jersey who took the "What Exit?" joke and decided to take it back and embrace it with buy selling it as merchandise. Down the Shore, stickers, t-shirts and more celebrate the Garden State Parkway exit number for that particular beach town.

When I first saw this hat, I wondered why there was a North Carolina route marker on it. Then it dawned on me that it was probably an attempt to say "EXIT 10" which is Stone Harbor Blvd. My theory is that the shop saw something for NC 12, the main highway in North Carolina's Outer Banks and tried to adopt it for the Jersey Shore. For me, well-versed in things like state highway markers, it falls short.

Stone Harbor, NJ, Jersey Shore, Seven Mile Island, NC 10,

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 9:16 PM | |

Oh Superman where are you now?

AVALON, N.J. -- 50th Street may be hard as nails and sensitive too, but it can't seem to figure out that Dune Drive in Avalon and Second Ave. in Stone Harbor are really the same road.

Avalon, NJ, Jersey Shore, Down the Shore Lois Lane

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Kentucky is a storm ready community

AVALON, N.J. -- When I first saw this sign, I wondered why Kentucky was on it. It turns out it was a cloud and it was a little "chubby" to be Kentucky anyway.


Avalon, NJ, Jersey Shore, Seven Mile Island, Ocean Drive, sign Cape May County

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

Pop quiz, The Avalon Motel is located in?

NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. -- If you guessed Avalon, you're wrong.

Why someone would name a hotel after two towns up (via two bridges) is beyond me. Avalon and North Wildwood are very different places.

North Wildwood, NJ, Jersey Shore, The Avalon Motel

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 8:50 PM | |

Pitza: It's not just from Hazleton anymore

WILDWOOD, N.J. -- My wife noticed this sign on the boardwalk. Previously, we had been led to believe that pitza was a food stuff indiginous to Senape's of Hazleton, Pa. Our friend Tom once had this to say about it:

To clarify, no one "likes" Senapes pitza. We consume it out of fear. Yes, fear. No one has ever seen a Senape's bakery delivery truck anywhere near their local market, and yet, there it is...every Saturday morning during grocery shopping...the ominous blue and white box (obviously the colors of the ever-mistrusted and thrice-cursed U.N.)...oils slowly oozing from the corners of its container...lying there...lying there in wait...slowly self-replicating via some bizarre Cronenberg-ian ovipository sequence relating to its bakery-string-like replication tendrils.

Shudder. It is not so much ingested as it is...destroyed.

Based on that, we decided not to inquire any more.

Wildwood, NJ, Jersey Shore, boardwalk, pitza

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

The Wildwood boardwalk

WILDWOOD, N.J. -- As Jersey Shore towns go, the Wildwoods (shorthand for Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest; Jersey loves identifying similarly named towns with "The" as in Oranges and Amboys) are about pretty much the antithesis of the Seven Mile Island towns of Avalon and Stone Harbor. Whereas those two are quiet towns with beach houses and no boardwalks, Wildwood full of motels and a long boardwalk.

Needing to keep my son out of the house for a few hours for cleaning, we decided to spend a little time on the Wildwood boardwalk. We parked on the last street in North Wildwood and pushed the stroller up one of the steep ramps onto the boardwalk and headed south. Several years ago, my first impressions of the Wildwood Boardwalk was that it was more tacky than trashy and that remains my opinion. We saw lots of shops with t-shirts extolling the merits of New Jersey, regional teams, Cookie Monster and my favorite, the "I put ketchup on my ketchup" shirt. I restrained myself from buying it.

Food wise, I wound up getting Curley Fries which are actually crinkle cut, while Erica got funnel cake. We all shared it, Will approves. We also stopped a Stewart's stand for root beer. I took a few photographs while we were there too.

[flickr : Photos tagged with wildwoodboardwalk/slideshow]

Wildwood, NJ, Jersey Shore, boardwalk

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 12:39 PM | |

No toll for cyclists on Ocean Drive bridges

AVALON, N.J. -- In Cape May County, a series of roads connecting the barrier islands all the way to Atlantic City are known as Ocean Drive (Wikipedia). The "Follow the Gull" signs direct motorists to a thru route that avoids the mainland. The route has a number of drawbridges over inlets connecting the islands. There are tolls between the islands though, likely so that Ocean Drive won't be used as an free alternative to the Garden State Parkway, not too mention bridge upkeep.

When I started going to Seven Mile Island for extended stays again, I started making sure I had my bicycle with me. The first year, I decided to cross off the island, I asked the toll taker if I had to pay a toll. I was pleased to learn that I did not. It is a good thing too -- tolls are now $1.50 which is more expensive than the Parkway I believe. This year I wound up biking across the bridges between Stone Harbor and North Wildwood as well as the bridge between Avalon and Sea Isle City. I also drove across those bridges in addition to the one between Sea Isle City and Ocean City when I went for a drive with my son to get us out of the house on cleaning day.



[flickr : Photos tagged with oceandrive/slideshow]

Avalon,Stone Harbor, NJ, Jersey Shore, Seven Mile Island, Ocean Drive, bicycling Cape May County

Labels: Bicycling, New Jersey, Transportation, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 11:45 AM | |

We have been going to Springer's for five generations

STONE HARBOR, NJ -- I have mentioned Springer's before, but I'll do it again. The place has great ice cream and is a Seven Mile Beach institution. By my calculations, my son and his cousin, became the fifth generation of my family to enjoy ice cream there. Will had chocolate and banana on separate visits. My dad had rum raisin as always and my mom had lemon. I don't know what the rest of us had, but I went with my usual. We went there only three times during our visit, though it'd be pretty fun to go nightly.

Springer's has been owned by Barbara and Neil Humphreys of central Virginia since 1975. He took the famed Penn State Ice Cream Short Course. Next year, they are inviting back anybody whoever worked at Springer's since they bought it for a reunion.



[flickr : Photos tagged with springers/slideshow]

Stone Harbor, NJ, Jersey Shore, Seven Mile Island, Springer's, ice cream

Labels: Food and Drink, New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 12:06 PM | |

And now let us praise the outdoors shower

AVALON, N.J. -- I know I'm not the only one who loves the outdoor showers at the beach. I still get occasional hits from a defunct nj.com blog that I commented on with a link to this 2007 post about outdoor showers on Capitol Hill.

In short, showering outdoors after a long day on the beach and in the ocean is incredibly refreshing. All the more so with a Pepsi in hand (the gin and tonic comes after the shower).

For my family, an outdoor shower is a requirement for a Shore beach house. This year's rental had a decent one, the water pressure was good, but the floor was concrete. I prefer the classic all-wood shower, but in the end this one was good enough.

Avalon, NJ, Jersey Shore, Down the Shore outdoors shower

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Bob Dylan picked up in front of Bruce Springsteen's old house by Long Branch, NJ cops

Was Dylan Searching for the Home Where Springsteen Penned 'Born to Run'? - ABC News
I am highly amused by this story about a 24 year old Long Branch, N.J.^* cop picking up Bob Dylan for wandering around the house that Bruce Springsteen wrote "Born to Run" in. Apparently, Dylan didn't look like Bob Dylan to her and since he was not carrying identification, she had to go back to his tour buses with him for verification. I hope he writes a song about it.

If I wrote for The Onion, I'd write an article headlined "John Mellencamp hoping Dylan will look for his old house" and then have Dylan say something like "Who?" when asked about it. That or Dylan being found with a molotov cocktail where Mellencamp wrote "Smalltown."

^*I used to got to Long Branch pretty regularly for over a decade. I've probably been to the beach at Seven Presidents Park twenty times or more, first with family and then Brad. We never looked for Springsteen's house though.

Bob Dylan, Long Branch, NJ, Bruce Springsteen

Labels: Music, New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

Avalon is a great place to be "off the grid"

I'm back from a week down the Shore in beautiful Avalon, N.J. We had a great time and my son seems to like the beach and the ocean. While there we introduced him to the Atlantic Ocean (he likes splashing around), the fine Seven Mile Island sand, Springer's Ice Cream and even funnel cake on the Wildwood Boardwalk.

I had absolutely, no internet withdrawal while up there either. I also won the Yurasko Bodysurfing Competition again.

Now, I'm back and I think might have a few things to blog about now. I just wiped out my Google Reader which was at 1000+ too. Let me know what I missed that was really good.

Avalon, NJ, Jersey Shore, Down the Shore

Labels: New Jersey, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 8:40 PM | |

NJ Turnpike to be widened between exits 6 and 9

$2.7B N.J. Turnpike widening project begins - The Star-Ledger
A much needed widening project along the New Jersey Turnpike is finally underway.

The project will expand six lanes to 12, between Exits 6 and 8A and will add two lanes to the 10 between 8A to Exit 9. Car and truck traffic will be separated, and the expansion is expected to ease one of the more crowded roadways in the region, currently used by an average of 680,000 drivers each day.

"On any given Friday that merge can back up 10 miles," said Gutierrez-Scaccetti, "On a holiday it can back up for 12."

Officials at the Turnpike Authority say the expansion is the most ambitious in the history of the 58-year-old highway. It is part of a larger, $7 billion capital plan announced earlier this year by Corzine that also includes a widening of the Garden State Parkway.

Basically, this extends the dual-dual lane configuration all the way to the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange (technically the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension). Left unsaid in the article is the realignment of Interstate 95 onto the far eastern end of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to meet the mainline NJ Turnpike at interchange 6. That project, which was mandated by Congress in 1982 after the Somerset Freeway was canceled between Trenton and Edison, will finally complete I-95. By the way, back when I was an underclassman in college, I exchanged a few emails with the lead project engineer on the Pennsylvania project and they are now just getting close to getting shovels in the ground. He acknowledged they were not thrilled about having to build this interchange because NJ didn't build 30 miles of I-95. I can see their point, but they should have built a direct connection there anyway.

Also, I have not confirmed, but suspect that a redesigned interchange 8 near Hightstown will mean a connection to NJ 133 instead of NJ 33.

OFFICIAL WEB SITES

• The NJ Turnpike Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Program
  
  
• PA Turnpike / I-95 Interchange Project

A HAT TIP TO STEVE ANDERSON FOR THE LINK, CHECK OUT HIS COVERAGE

• New Jersey Turnpike - nycroads.com
  
  
• New Jersey Turnpike-Pennsylvania Extension - phillyroads.com

New Jersey,NJ, NJ Turnpike, widening, I-95, Interstate 95

Labels: I-95, New Jersey, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:32 PM | |

Warmer water at the Jersey Shore this year

Great news! After last summer's upwelling kept the Atlantic Ocean tempratures from getting out of the low 60s for most of the summer, the water is already warm.

But the winds have shifted this summer and temps in the 70s were predicted for most South Jersey shores in July and August.

With the sun out for the first time in what seemed like forever, weekend ocean temperatures already rose to the lower 70s, an earlier-than-usual warming.

Now the bad news -- I can't go there for a while :(

NJ, Jersey Shore, New Jersey, beach

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Winter was kind to Jersey Shore beaches

Beaches intact after mild winter - Asbury Park Press
Beaches along the Jersey Shore made it through the winter pretty well since there were no really big storms. There may be some atypical erosion on the north side of jetties due to a lack of northeast winds though.

NJ, Jersey Shore

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

Garden State Parkway's Driscoll Bridge now 15 lanes

Multi-year Driscoll Bridge project completed - Asbury Park Press
How about this for a birthday present Brad? Your favorite bridge, the Alfred E. Driscoll Bridge, has just had its rebuilding completed. Instead of being a meager 12 lanes, it is now 15 (steep) lanes wide. Now the Garden State Parkway has the widest bridge in the nation.

PREVIOUSLY: Hey Brad, your favorite bridge is on schedule - 07.28.2008

Driscoll Bridge, Garden State Parkway, NJ

Labels: New Jersey, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:30 PM | |

Inky/Philly Daily News Jersey Shore guide now up

On the beach in Stone Harbor, looking towards The Wildwoods in 2007

Shore Guide - The Inky/Philly Daily News
With only a week to go before Memorial Day weekend, the first newspaper guide to the 2009 Jersey Shore season has gone online. When more (Asbury Park Press, Star Ledger) arrive, I'll link to them too.

I am already in the mood for going down the Shore. We actually considered going up to Long Beach Island last Saturday with the allergies so bad. Being five miles out to sea, LBI probably gets very little pollen. One of these years, we'll follow through on this idea.

NJ, Jersey Shore

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 12:02 PM | |

Bring a wetsuit!

# posted by  WFY : Monday, May 18, 2009 8:23:00 AM  

Jersey Shore: Beach badge prices stay the same

Bad economy has shore towns putting a freeze on beach badge prices - Press of Atlantic City
All Long Beach Island communities, plus Ventor and Margate are holding the line on prices for this season's beach badges. No word on Avalon or Stone Harbor. Atlantic City and Wildwood don't have beach badges.

As I mentioned last year, I'm not anti-beach badge like some people. I would rather the beaches be paid for with an user fee than taxes.
Jersey Shore, NJ, beach, down the shore, Long Beach Island, beach badges

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 10:30 AM | |

NJ A.G. trying to prevent pretrial intervention for Pa. dentist allged to have dumped medical waste near Avalon

Pretrial intervention opposed in N.J. dumping case - The Inky
New Jersey's attorney general is trying to keep Pennsylvania dentist Thomas McFarland, alleged to have dumped medical waste into the Townsends Inlet between Avalon and Sea Isle City, from entering a pretrial intervention program. McFarland's alleged actions resulted in beach closures during the Labor Day weekend from Cape May to Atlantic City.

New Jersey got a black eye a generation ago for beach closings caused by trash that washed up -- trash from out of state sources. What McFarland has alleged to do should result in some hard time if he is convicted.

Thomas McFarland, New Jersey, Jersey Shore, NJ

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

Vote for top 10 Jersey Shore beaches

Remember last year when Wildwood was voted New Jersey's best beach? The same poll begins again right now at New Jersey's Ten Top Beaches.

Jersey Shore, NJ, beach, down the shore

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 12:00 PM | |

Places I went in 2008

I used the same criteria as previous years -- I have to had a meal or spent the night there. Fast food does not count either.

Alexandria, Va.
Arlington, Va.
Bluemont, Va.
McLean, Va.
Vienna, Va.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Washington, D.C.
Columbia, Md.
Avalon, N.J.
Sea Isle City, N.J
Stone Harbor, N.J.
Bronx, N.Y.
New York, N.Y.
Allentown, Pa.
Belleville, Pa.
Harrisburg, Pa.
Hershey, Pa.
Lewisberry, Pa.
Lewistown, Pa.
Manada Hill, Pa.
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Reedsville, Pa.
State College, Pa.
Tannersville, Pa.
Kenley, N.C.
Wilson, N.C.
Conway, S.C.
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Pawley's Island, S.C.

There are a couple of exceptions to the rule -- we did not eat in Bluemont, but cut down a Christmas tree, so that counts. Also, we drove through Delaware but did not stop.
This year also marked the least amount of visits to New Jersey ever. Next year, we will have to do better.

Labels: Alexandria, Arlington, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, The District, Travel, Vienna, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 8:48 AM | |

Olga's closed for good

Olga's Diner in Marlton closes for good - Courier-Post, Cherry Hill
Olga's, a staple of the NJ 70/73 circle in Marlton, N.J., is closed for good. There were several shutdowns over the past year.

The diner was shut down Oct. 17 because, Stavros said, he owed nearly $17,000 to PSE&G for gas and electric service.

It was the fourth time this year the diner closed because of financial trouble. Olga's closed July 2-4, also because of a PSE&G bill; and July 24-29 because of $37,000 in delinquent state taxes. That closure was extended until Aug. 1 because of yet another PSE&G suspension.

I might have eaten at Olga's two or three times in all the years I passed it on the way to Grandma's and Long Beach Island.

It's goodbye, this time for good, to Olga's Diner - The Inky

PREVIOUSLY:
Wait, I thought Olga's was going to be gone by now - 08.05.2008
OLGA'S DINER UP FOR SALE - 04.15.2005

Olga's Diner, Marlton, NJ, New Jersey

Labels: Food and Drink, New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 6:34 AM | |

Final week of Henny's

Seven Mile Beach Landmark, Henny's Prepares Benefit for Last Call Nov. 30 - Cape May County Herald
Do you like Stone Harbor's venerable Henny's restaurant? You have four more days to visit it as Nov. 30 is the final day it will be open. The property was sold to build a new resort.

PREVIOUSLY: Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished

H/T: Down the Shore with Jen

Hennys, Stone Harbor, NJ, Jersey Shore

Labels: Food and Drink, New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 6:59 AM | |

Pa, dentist indicted for dumping at Jersey Shore

Dentist indicted for dumping medical waste - Cape May County News

On Sept. 2, Thomas W. McFarland Jr., a dentist out of Wynnewood, Pa. turned himself into the Avalon Police Department and admitted he was responsible for the approximately 260 Accujet needles, 180 cotton swabs and various other waste items that began washing onto the beaches of Avalon on Aug. 23. The waste continued to wash ashore between 9th and 24th streets and caused four closings over a 10-day span.

Should he be found guilty, I hope they lock up this Pennsylvania trash for a good long time, but fines seem more likely. The article notes that McFarland could be fined up to $75,000.

PREVIOUSLY: Pa. dentist apparently responsible for medical waste in Avalon

Thomas McFarland, New Jersey, Jersey Shore, NJ

Labels: New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 2:45 PM | |

Barnegat Lighthouse to shine again

Visiting Old Barney on a cloudy day in September 2006

"Old Barney" to light the sky once again - Asbury Park Press
For the first time since 1927, Barnegat Lighthouse, located in Barnaget Light on Long Beach Island, is going be a working lighthouse again.

The new light will not be as powerful as the lens that was installed in 1859, Rinaldi pointed out. The original lens, which is on display at the Barnegat Light Museum and Gardens, is about 10 feet by 8 feet with a kerosene lamp at its center.

The soon-to-be-installed lens is about 20 inches high and 20 inches wide, composed of Lucite panels. A rotating turntable behind the panels can accommodate a 10- to 100-watt bulb. The Coast Guard has approved the use of the new light, which is being imported from Vega Industries Limited in New Zealand at a cost of about $15,000, Rinaldi said.

As the turntable rotates, the light strikes a panel that refracts and magnifies the light to create a single beam that can be visible for up to 22 nautical miles.

This is all being done to commemorate the 150 anniversary of the lighthouse, first lit on Jan. 1, 1859. Old Barney is probably one of the most recognizable sights at the Jersey Shore. I have climbed all 217 steps to the observation deck a few times. The first visit, in the 1980s, revealed that about 172 feet below, our car was parked on the helipad. Oops.

Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Light, Long Beach Island, , Jersey Shore, New Jersey, NJ

Labels: History, New Jersey

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

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Pa. dentist apparently responsible for medical waste in Avalon

Montco dentist reportedly admits dumping medical waste in Shore - The Inky

A fishing boat rocked against a dock yesterday at Dr. Thomas W. McFarland's scenic Shore home. But the Wynnewood dentist apparently has been doing more than jigging for flounder.

McFarland turned himself in to Avalon, N.J., police on Tuesday in connection with the dumping of needles, cotton swabs and other medical waste into the waterways, several news organizations reported.

What this Pennsylvanian is alleged to have done gives the whole Shore and state a black eye. If this guy is convicted, I hope he spends a long time behind bars; Rahway would probably be a good spot. Oh and if he had done this the week I was up there, I would have sued him.

Thomas McFarland, New Jersey, Jersey Shore, NJ

Labels: New Jersey, Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot

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posted by WFY @ 6:30 AM | |