SURVEY SHOWS MAJOR INCREASE OF ENDANGERED SEABEACH AMARANTH PLANTS SOUTH OF SANDY HOOK

TRENTON – An annual plant census along New Jersey\’s coastal beaches south of Sandy Hook shows a significant surge in the number of seabeach amaranth, a federally threatened and state endangered plant species, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced today.

Biologists with the DEP and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey counted 7,195 plants, a more than 600 percent increase from the 2018 total of 1,053 plants. Similarly, 1,591 of the plants are at Island Beach State Park, compared with 307 found there in 2018 — a more than 500 percent increase.

\”I am very pleased that the statewide surge of seabeach amaranth experienced in 2018 has been far exceeded this year,\” Commissioner McCabe said. \”Our DEP biologists indicate that while the increase can be the result of many different factors, it could not have occurred without the presence and structural integrity of the habitat required by this species.\”

The resurgence of seabeach amaranth is particularly remarkable because the plant had not been observed in the state from 1913 to 2000 and was considered lost from New Jersey flora. The plant was rediscovered in 2000 near Sandy Hook following a beach-fill operation in Monmouth County for coastal storm protection and recreation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants pay for the DEP to do annual surveys of the plant since its rediscovery.

\”Staff of the Division of Parks and Forestry and its many partners and supporters should take a bow for their contribution to the resurgence of this very interesting and specialized plant,\” said Division of Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn. \”Of course, if a little bit of luck was involved, we are thankful for that, too.\”

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a low-growing plant with fleshy, spinach-like leaves and reddish stems. Plants germinate as early as April, and in June and July begin to produce inconspicuous yellow flowers that are wind-pollinated. Seed production soon follows, and plants typically grow about four inches across but sometimes may grow to a meter in diameter. Flowering and seed production continue until the plants die in the fall and early winter.

Seabeach amaranth is an annual plant, meaning that the individuals counted in any year are new plants resulting from seed dispersed in prior years. The seeds are durable, waterproof, and can be dispersed long distances by wave and wind action, or they may stay relatively close to the parent plant. The seed are also thought to remain viable for long periods, known as seed banking. Consequently, it is impossible to predict how abundant the plant will be from one year to the next.

On an undisturbed beach, seabeach amaranth may grow anywhere from the base of the dune to the high tide line. Managing human activity along the New Jersey coast, including beach raking as well as government and recreational vehicle use, also occur in the habitat that is vital for this and other species, whether rare or common.

The presence of seabeach amaranth is an indicator of a healthy or recovering habitat. It is one of only six plants in the state that are listed as either endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The DEP, in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Raritan Valley Community College is working to protect the habitat where seabeach amaranth thrives.

Island Beach State Park has created special protection zones, known as plant protection strips, that are marked with stakes, strings and signs to alert the public to the presence of a protected area along the base of dunes. This allows public recreation to continue near thriving plants. The protection zones have proven successful, with seabeach amaranth and other rare plant species continuing to repopulate and expand in these areas.

Between 2001 and 2015, Island Beach State Park had an average of seven seabeach amaranth plants per year. After the 2016 expansion of protections throughout the park, the average number of seabeach amaranth jumped to 479 plants annually.

The protection zones also create habitat essential for beach-nesting birds to raise new young successfully. The piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a federally threatened shorebird, returned for nesting at Island Beach State Park in 2016 following a 27-year absence. Plovers have returned each year since, with 2019 marking the most successful year for the species in the park since protections were put in place in 2016, with six young birds fledged.

The same protections also allowed American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus), a species of Special Concern in New Jersey, to successfully nest on the ocean beaches for the first time.

Habitat protection at Island Beach State Park began as a pilot project by Raritan Valley Community College in 2008 and has been implemented since 2016 with grant funding received by the Branchburg college serving Somerset and Hunterdon counties, and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Additionally, through its annual issuance of beach and dune maintenance permits, the DEP is regulating municipal beaches where seabeach amaranth and other federally listed plant and animal species occur. These permits include actions that must be taken to protect habitat for these species based on data collected by the DEP and its partners.

\”Beach and dune maintenance permits issued to public and private entities are predicated on annual coordination as seabeach amaranth take root and bird species come to nest,\” said Division of Land Use Regulation Bureau Chief Ryan Anderson. \”The cooperation and willingness of our regulated partners to adjust their maintenance activities based on the presence of sensitive species cannot be understated in the resurgence of seabeach amaranth.\”

For a fact sheet on plant protection strips and other information, visit

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/endangered/amaranth.html*photos__;Iw!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!cjPqEDgpoW-57P8qheZVqA7sWG5w36uOPqt0zu57fDQWhb4ZnEDM6DC1xttw6XZwudmgwYcC$

Learn more about the DEP\’s Division of Land Use Regulation and Office of Natural Lands Management at

http://www.nj.gov/dep/landuse/lu_onlm.html

and the New Jersey Natural Heritage Program at

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/index.html

For more information on the Division of Parks and Forestry, visit

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/

For more information about the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, visit

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!cjPqEDgpoW-57P8qheZVqA7sWG5w36uOPqt0zu57fDQWhb4ZnEDM6DC1xttw6XZwuRIR3e-I$

Avalon Attains Class 3 CRS Rating

35 Percent Discounts on Flood Insurance Come in 2020

The Borough of Avalon has achieved a Class 3 status in the Federal Emergency Management’s Community Rating System that evaluates the flood mitigation practices of a community. During its five-year review process, the CRS program elevated Avalon from a Class 5 to a Class 3, meaning property owners who carry flood insurance will enjoy a 35 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums. This translates into approximately $1.6 million in cumulative insurance savings for Avalon residents starting sometime in 2020. 1,700 municipalities participate in the CRS program nationwide; Avalon is one of only 13 municipalities in the entire country to achieve a Class 3 rating.

“This two-level increase by the Borough of Avalon in this program is extremely significant and a true reflection on the Borough’s best flood mitigation practices, recognized on the national level”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “Flood mitigation is not a once a year, but an everyday practice among our employees, professionals, and volunteers. The CRS program has recognized the Borough’s level of excellence in making our community more resilient and protected from future storm events and sea level rise”.

Avalon received a draft verification report on the points assigned to various activities for which the Borough participates. Avalon secured enough points to move from a Class 5 to a Class 3. In addition, Avalon also secured enough points during this review process that will still secure the Class 3 classification even when points are taken away in the future from every community for adopting advisory base flood elevation maps following Hurricane Sandy. Avalon may also amend its application in 2021 with the potential of achieving a Class 2 status, providing further discounts in flood insurance premiums.

The Borough is aggressively reviewed in this program with a complete evaluation of resiliency efforts, including building code standards, ordinance and regulations, public communications and notification, maintenance of proper elevation certificates, storm water management, and higher regulatory standards. Avalon achieves additional points for having its own Watershed Management Plan and Floodplain Management Plan. Avalon recently authorized a north end flood mitigation project, the elevation and repair of the 8

Street Jetty, and a flood sensor program that measured actual impacts in flood-prone areas.

The Avalon Office of Emergency Management is also highly credited for having a model program for flood risk communications, including a standalone emergency website, presence on social media, Avalon weather station, and municipal flood risk map that is included in all messaging.

Avalon is one of two communities in the State of New Jersey to elevate its program to the Class 3 classification.

One Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Wins $140,963 Jackpot in Ocean County

TRENTON (Dec. 24, 2019) – One lucky ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $140,963 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the Monday, Dec. 23, drawing. The winning numbers were: 10, 22, 23, 25 and 40 and the XTRA number was: 04. The retailer will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for the winning ticket sold. That ticket was sold at Jay’s Food Mart, 358 Herbertsville Rd., Brick in Ocean County.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 286,462 tickets purchased for the drawing. By adding XTRA, for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn. For correctly matching four of the five numbers drawn, 39 ticketholders won $543 each and 13 others won $2,172 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three of the five numbers drawn, 1,789 ticketholders won $14 each and 355 others won $56 each with the addition of XTRA. Lastly 4,456 ticketholders each won $2 for correctly matching two of the five numbers drawn with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.

Sentencing of Millville Suspect Announced for Drug Induced Death Case

December 23, 2019

Cape May Court House, New Jersey – Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced the sentencing of Christopher R. Small, a 41 year old male from Millville, NJ, who was sentenced on Friday December 20, 2019, to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison by the

Honorable Judge Gibson, JSC.

This sentence was related to a October 3, 2018, drug induced death investigation of the victim, Kevin MacFarlane, a 54 year old male from Avalon, NJ, initiated by Troopers and Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Woodbine Barracks.

Defendant Christopher Small was sentenced to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison with no early release for the drug-induced death of the victim and a consecutive 5 year term for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

Prosecutor Sutherland stated that his office as well as all law enforcement agencies throughout Cape May County will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who engage in the distribution of CDS, especially those individuals who distribute CDS which results in the death of another. Sentencing for Christopher Verity, a co-defendant in this drug induced death investigation, is scheduled for January 16, 2020.

Prosecutor Sutherland would like to recognize the investigative efforts of the officers and detectives involved in this investigation along with Assistant Prosecutor Edward Shim who prosecuted this case.

Prosecutor Sutherland continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report information regarding any criminal activity within community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at

cmcsheriff.net

and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800, or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.

Fingerprints of an invisible, restricted horseracing therapy

Katherine Unger Baillie | Kbaillie@Upenn.edu

A treatment called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is used in patients both human and equine to speed healing of injured tendons and ligaments. Using high-pressure sonic waves, ESWT is thought to increase blood flow to the treated area, and has been shown to reduce pain over the short term.

Mary Robinson, director of Penn Vet’s Equine Pharmacology Laboratory, led work with lab member Jinwen Chen, to find fingerprints of shockwave therapy, a treatment used to address injury and pain in both humans and horses. The practice is banned in racehorses 10 days prior to competition. (Image: Paulick Report)

In racehorses, however, masking pain can come with a cost: overworked minor injuries could lead to major ones—or even pose a life-threatening risk to both horse and rider.

For that reason, horseracing authorities have banned the use of ESWT for horses within 10 days of a race or sporting event. But the question of how to enforce the ban on this “invisible” therapy remained open. Now a team led by

Mary Robinson

, director of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s

Equine Pharmacology Research Laboratory

, and lab member Jinwen Chen has found that the practice does in fact leave a trail. In a paper in

Equine Veterinary Journal

, they report finding potential biomarkers of ESWT that, with further testing, could one day be used to enforce the ESWT ban.

“Because it\’s not a drug—it\’s applied to the surface of the skin—it\’s just not an easy thing to detect,” says Robinson. “After a lot of trial and error, our study was able to measure changes in levels of five inflammatory factors, some of which we could detect up to three weeks after the shockwave therapy.”

The attempt to find these biomarkers dates back roughly a decade.

“It was Dr. [Lawrence] Soma, my predecessor, who said [the lab] was going to have to look at blood-based or urine-based biomarkers to try to detect shockwave therapy,” Robinson notes.

To find the fingerprints that ESWT might leave behind, the researchers tested the therapy on 11 horses kept as a study herd at Penn Vet’s

New Bolton Center

. The researchers collected blood samples from the group of horses, composed of Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, at several timepoints both before and after they each received a single dose of ESWT to a leg.

Over the years, the lab investigated a number of potential biomarkers, molecules that would indicate a horse received ESWT. They zeroed in on 10 pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signaling molecules, called cytokines, which they can measure from the blood using a sensitive test called ELISA.

“We looked a week before giving the shockwave therapy to see if there were any changes in the baseline period, due to changes in time of day or anything else, and didn’t see anything we could define as significant,” Robinson says. “And in the post-shockwave period we went out to three weeks.”

They could not detect changes in five of the cytokines they examined following ESWT. But the other five—TNF-a, IL1b, IL-1RA, IL-6, and sTLR2—did respond. Of those, TNF-a levels were significantly increased through the whole of the post-therapy study period, three weeks.

More study is necessary, Robinson emphasizes, before these biomarkers could be used to assess inappropriate use of ESWT in racehorses. For one, the researchers would like to see if measuring these same molecules in horses that are actively training and racing, or that have an acute injury, might change their results.

For that, she and her colleagues are actively pursuing follow-up studies to look at these biomarkers and other indicators, using a biobank of samples from client-owned animals, including injured and active racehorses, treated at New Bolton Center.

The end goal is to keep the sport safe.

“Shockwave therapy is great as long as people rest the horse after using it,” she says. “We are concerned that it’s being abused in the racehorse industry and that it could potentially result in breakdowns. That’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.”

Dr. Mary Robinson

is an assistant professor of veterinary pharmacology and director of

the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory

at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Jinwen Chen is a research specialist in t

he Equine Pharmacology Laboratory

at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Additional coauthors on the study were Penn Vet’s

Darko Stefanovski

Joanne Haughan, Zibin Jiang, Raymond Boston, and Lawrence Soma.

The study was supported by the Pennsylvania State Racing Commissions and the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen Association at Pocono and Chester Downs, Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association at Penn National and Presque Isle Downs, and The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

Future studies to expand on this body of research are largely supported by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA),

whose generous support established New Bolton Center\’s state-of-the-art Equine BioBank.

About Penn Vet

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling nearly 35,300 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles nearly 5,300 patient visits a year, while the Field Service treats more than 38,000 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.

Avalon Honors Employees, Municipal Engineer

for Contributions and Achievements

Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi and Borough Council honored employees who achieved milestones in longevity of service benchmarks during the Wednesday, December 18

Borough Council meeting. Mayor and Council also presented a special proclamation to Municipal Engineer Tom Thornton of Mott MacDonald for achieving the distinction of 2019 Engineer of the Year from the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers.

“We are proud of the dedication of service our employees provide to the community that truly makes Avalon one of the best communities in New Jersey”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “We are also proud of Tom’s efforts as he and his team have been very valuable contributors to our capital and resiliency projects in Avalon”.

The following employees have been recognized with Certificates of Achievement for their service to Avalon:

35 years: Arthur Ridler, Murray Wolf

30 years: Ernest Blood, Cynthia Dandridge, Council President Dr. Nancy Hudanich, Kimberly Mastriana

25 years: Kevin Scarpa, Kathleen Seliger, Kevin Scarpa

20 years: Stephen Camp, Jeffrey Christopher, Richard E. Dean, Sr., Michael Dean, Tracey Eppright

15 years: Alexis Coan, Michelle Devine

10 years: Stephen Bowers, Robert Hampf, Nicholas Jefferes, Nathan Morey, William Robinson III, Zachary Saduk, Michael Scythes

5 years: Gregory Armstrong, Michelle Auxer, Daniel Berglund, Brenda Camp, Brandon Cooper, Travis Cooper, Anthony Decesero Jr, James Waldron

Thornton achieved his individual honor during a meeting of the New Jersey League of Municipalities in Atlantic City on November 20

. He has served as Avalon’s municipal engineer since 2002 and has a leadership position on Avalon’s Floodplain Management Committee. Engineer Jeff Betz and Thornton were instrumental in the engineering services that produced Avalon’s popular Surfside Park, which received an award at the same meeting. That project was designed by Taylor Design Group of Mt. Laurel, NJ.

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSBOOKS SCORE $316 MILLION NOVEMBER

(LAS VEGAS) — Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks celebrated the industry’s first birthday in November by setting a new monthly handle record and surpassing $1 billion in lifetime wagers. The industry continues to gain steam as its online product matures, a process boosted by the recent online launch of DraftKings and Unibet, according to

PlayPennsylvania.com

analysts.

“Pennsylvania has come a long way in a year,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for

PlayPennsylvania.com

. “Plagued with relatively high gaming taxes and early hurdles to its online launch, Pennsylvania’s future as a legal sports betting jurisdiction was murky at the beginning. But despite the issues in its infancy, the state has proven to be attractive for operators and the market is truly beginning to flourish.”

Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks accepted $316.5 million in wagers in November, up 31.2% from October’s $241.2 million, according to official data released Tuesday. Those bets generated $20.6 million in revenue — up from October’s $19.1 million win — and yielded $3.9 million in state taxes.

The totals are a far cry from November 2018 when the state’s first and only sportsbook, Hollywood Casino, generated $1.4 million in bets and $508,997 in gross revenue. Since, Pennsylvania has grown into the third-largest legal sports betting jurisdiction in the country, and continues to chase neighbor New Jersey, which accepted $562.2 million in bets in November.

The most important factor in Pennsylvania’s growth was the summer 2019 launch of online sports betting. The roster of online brands has grown to seven following the November launches of DraftKings, under The Meadows license, and Unibet, under the Mohegan Sun Pocono umbrella. Those seven online sportsbooks generated 84.3% of the state’s November handle — a total of $266.7 million, up from $198.7 million in October.

“Online sports betting has unquestionably been the key driver of the state’s growth,” Gouker said. “Not only has online betting grown to account for an overwhelming majority of the state’s handle, but it has also helped spur growth among retail sportsbooks. That is a pattern that we saw in New Jersey, too.”

FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino remains dominant in the online market, despite fresh competition from rival DraftKings and Unibet. FanDuel accepted $149.7 million in November bets, up from $113.9 million in October, yielding $9.2 million in revenue, up from $8.1 million. FanDuel was followed by:

Rivers-Philadelphia ($32.4 million in handle, up from $30 million in October; $1.9 million revenue, down from $2.5 million)

Rivers-Pittsburgh ($30.6 million handle, up from $26.6 million; $1.7 million revenue, up from $1.6 million)

Parx Casino ($22.4 million handle, up from $18.4 million; $1.6 million revenue, down from $1.7 million)

DraftKings at The Meadows ($16.2 million handle; $1.6 million revenue)

Fox Bet at Mount Airy ($13.5 million handle, up from $9.8 million; $1.2 million revenue, up from $591,309 in revenue)

Unibet at Mohegan Sun Pocono ($1.9 million handle; $26,440 revenue)

“With the addition of DraftKings, Pennsylvania now has the two largest sports betting brands in the country,” Gouker said. “The question is whether DraftKings can make a dent in FanDuel’s market dominance, or has FanDuel’s early launch baked in its market advantages for the foreseeable future.”

Rivers-Pittsburgh’s $8.88 million handle, up from $7.7 million in October, narrowly led the retail market. That yielded $486,449 in revenue, down from $699,611. Rivers was followed by:

Rivers Philadelphia, formerly SugarHouse ($8.87 million handle in October, up from $7.2 million; $234,951 revenue, down from $813,839)

Parx ($8.1 million handle, up from $7.5 million; $739,281 revenue, down from $1 million)

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course ($3.8 million handle, up from $3 million; $48,520 revenue, down from $350,083)

Presque Isle ($3.7 million handle, down from $3.2 million; $302,458 revenue, up from $194,829)

South Philadelphia Race and Sportsbook ($3.6 million handle, up from $2.8 million; $339,310 revenue, down from $402,272)

Valley Forge Casino ($3.2 million handle, down from $4.1 million; $192,492 revenue, up from $155,730)

Harrah’s Philadelphia ($3 million handle, up from $2.3 million; $234,355 revenue, down from $277,295)

Mohegan ($2.5 million handle, up from $2.1 million; $173,120 revenue, down from $305,697)

Oaks Race and Sportsbook ($1.4 million handle, up from $1.1 million; $149,765 revenue, down from $162,127)

Mount Airy ($868,026 handle, up from $641,087 handle; $43,680 revenue, down from $86,800 in revenue)

Online casino industry expands in November

The launch of poker and two new online casinos in November helped boost Pennsylvania’s gross revenue to a new high-water mark. The state’s fledgling industry, which now boasts five online casinos, generated $9.7 million in November gross revenue, up 98% from $4.9 million in October.

The launch of PokerStars Casino, Nov. 4, and Unibet/Mohegan Sun Pocono, Nov. 12, combined with the addition of poker, spurred wagers to $316.8 million, up 58% from $200.2 million in October. Poker alone accounted for $2 million in revenue in its first month, an impressive total considering the bit part it plays in neighboring New Jersey. In all, online casinos generated $2.4 million in state taxes in November.

Rivers-Philadelphia held on to the market lead with $3.2 million in revenue on $148.7 million in bets. That was up from $2.5 million in October revenue on $85.6 million in wagers. Rivers-Philadelphia was followed by:

Penn National ($1.9 million in revenue, up from $1.8 million in October; $57.1 million in bets, up from $56.6 million)

Parx ($1.5 million in revenue, up from $610,187; $55.5 million in wagers, down from $58 million)

Mount Airy/PokerStars ($3 million in revenue; $48 million in bets)

Unibet/Mohegan Sun Pocono ($131,415 in revenue; $7.4 million in bets)

“The online casino industry is finally gaining momentum, but Pennsylvania’s tax structure has definitely slowed its development,” Gouker said. “Still, with poker showing promise, especially compared to New Jersey, and new operators coming online, Pennsylvania’s market should really begin to take off.”

For more information on the revenue generated by Pennsylvania sports betting, visit www.

playpennsylvania.com/revenue

About the

PlayUSA.com

Network:

The

PlayUSA.com

Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states,

PlayUSA.com

and its state-focused branches (including

PlayNJ.com

and

PlayPennsylvania.com

) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

Hard Rock Hotel Casino 2019-20 Entertainment Schedule

2019 – 2020 ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

12/16 & 12/17 – Craig Gass & Joe Fernandez – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

12/27 & 12/28 – Jim Breuer – Sound Waves

12/28 – Earth Wind & Fire – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

12/29 & 12/30 – Human Nature – Sound Waves

12/31 – Kool & The Gang / K.C. & The Sunshine Band New Year’s Eve Party – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

1/6 – 1/9 – Chris Franjola & Richie Holliday – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

1/11 – Top Rank Boxing: Hart Vs Smith – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

1/13 – 1/14 & 1/16 – Tom Cotter & Kerri Louise – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

1/18 – Sounds of Philadelphia featuring Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and The Manhattans – Sound Waves

1/20 – 1/23 – Keifer Thompson & Dale Jones – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

1/25 – Marc Anthony

Opus Tour

– Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

1/29 & 1/30 – JF Harris & Greg Warren – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

2/3 – 2/6 – Lynne Koplitz & Jeff Shaw – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

2/7 – Sugar Ray – Sound Waves

2/8 – Demetri Martin “Wandering Mind Tour” – Sound Waves

2/10 – 2/13- Jessica Kirson – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

2/15 – Fitz & The Tantrums – Sound Waves

2/22 – Eros Ramazzotti – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

2/22 – Bob Saget – Sound Waves

2/24 – 2/27 – Greg Morton & Ben Moore – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

3/14 – Adam Sandler – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

3/14 – Jay Mohr – Sound Waves

4/17 – Ana Gabriel – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

5/1 – Zucchero – Sound Waves

6/6 –

Bad Company –

Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

For Tickets, visit

hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com

Avalon Receives $177,000 NJDOT Grant for Reconstruction of Portion of 69th Street

AVALON, NJ–The Borough of Avalon is receiving a $177,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The grant will be used for the Borough’s reconstruction of a portion of 69

Street between Dune Drive and Ocean Drive. The project is expected to begin in 2020.

“We are very appreciative of the Department taking a close look at this project and providing funding to help defray costs for municipal taxpayers”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “Avalon has been fortunate to submit competitive grant applications in prior years. These grants allow the Borough to repair and replace necessary infrastructure”.

Since 1997, the Borough of Avalon has secured approximately $2.9 million from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for various street projects. Last year, the Borough received a $150,000 grant from the program for the reconstruction of a portion of 68

Street.

In 2019, the Department received 661 applications that requested more than $368 million for projects. Funding comes from the Transportation Trust Fund which is supported by the State gasoline tax. $161.25 million was allocated to projects throughout the State of New Jersey for the NJDOT’s Fiscal Year 2020 Municipal Aid Program. The application for the grant was made by Avalon municipal engineer Thomas Thornton of Mott MacDonald and previously authorized by the Avalon Borough Council.

Ginger Radzieta Wins 2020 Avalon Beach Tag Art Contest

(Avalon, NJ)–Fifth grade Avalon Elementary School student Ginger Radzieta, pictured with Avalon Business Administrator Scott Wahl is the winner of the

Annual Beach Tag Art contest sponsored by the Avalon Elementary School and the Borough of Avalon. Ginger was presented with the very first beach tag of the 2020 beach season with her artwork, along with a plaque from Mayor Martin Pagliughi congratulating her on the award.

2020 Avalon Beach Tag

Each year, students at the Avalon Elementary School are asked to design the art work for the following summer’s seasonal beach tag. Dozens of entries are submitted to Mayor Martin Pagliughi who chooses the winning design.

The presentation was made to Ginger at the Avalon Elementary School on Friday, December 13

to kick off the annual holiday program at the school.

Photo: Avalon Business Administrator Scott Wahl with Ginger Radzieta. Photo by Avalon Recreation Director Chuck McDonnell.