Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A 39-year-old Pleasantville man was apprehended by US Marshals last week after he was wanted for robbing a liquor store twat gunpoint Robert Arroyo robbed a liquor store on the 3300 block of Atlantic Avenue on Friday taking money from the cash register after pointing a handgun at the clerk Arroyo was arrested in Ventor City by the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force- Atlantic City Division A search of his Weymouth Avenue residence turned up the handgun believed to be used in the incidents He was charged with four counts of aggravated assault two counts of robbery and multiple weapons offenses A popular discount grocery store is set to add another Atlantic County location If you’ve driven by the former White Horse Liquor Store on the White Horse Pike in Absecon and wondered what’s happening this is where the new Aldi is soon set to open at 674 White Horse Pike at the Marketplace of Absecon White Horse Liquor moved to a new location at 410 White Horse Pike This will be Aldi’s second Atlantic County store and 64th in New Jersey. They already have nearby locations in Egg Harbor Township, Bridgeton, and Vineland Aldi was voted by locals as one of their favorite places to shop recently There is no official opening date yet, but the store is coming along and was recently hiring people Looks like Absecon shoppers will have another grocery option coming soon Absecon already has a ShopRite at 616 White Horse Pike adding an Aldi gives shoppers another affordable option for groceries they offer great deals on name-brand products plus their offer their own line of goods and products. You can also get a variety of meats Another discount option is coming to Absecon, Steals & Deals, is moving into the former spot occupied by Staples in front of Home Depot at 413 E Absecon Blvd A new Aldi is opening in Absecon at the former White Horse Liquor site on the White Horse Pike. It will be the second Aldi in Atlantic County.\nRead More If you’ve driven by the former White Horse Liquor Store on the White Horse Pike in Absecon and wondered what’s happening This will be Aldi’s second Atlantic County store and 64th in New Jersey. They already have nearby locations in Egg Harbor Township, Bridgeton, and Vineland Aldi was voted by locals as one of their favorite places to shop recently There is no official opening date yet, but the store is coming along and was recently hiring people Absecon already has a ShopRite at 616 White Horse Pike Another discount option is coming to Absecon, Steals & Deals, is moving into the former spot occupied by Staples in front of Home Depot at 413 E Absecon Blvd The wait is almost over for the new Aldi discount supermarket in Absecon. This new store is at 674 White Horse Pike in the Marketplace of Absecon in the old White Horse Liquor location Aldi just announced that the store will have its grand opening at 8:45 am Thursday The store will then be open for shopping from 9 am to 8 pm daily the first American Aldi store opened in  Iowa Today, Aldi has more than 2,400 stores in 38 states with more than 45,000 employees the Absecon store will celebrate its grand opening by giving you the chance to be one of the first 100 customers to receive a gift bag containing store-exclusive products and a $100 gift card Opening day shoppers can also enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card Aldi regional vice president Bob Grammer spoke about Aldi's goal to sell a quality product at an affordable price shoppers will find that every decision we make from our product selection to store layout is to provide our customers with the best products at the lowest possible prices of any national grocer Our customers can save up to 36% on an average household’s shopping list As shoppers look for better ways to stretch their dollar ALDI is providing Absecon with easier access to quality groceries at affordable prices." Here are a few things that make Aldi different: - Aldi offers a variety of healthier food options - Aldi operates with a smaller store footprint with a simple layout Many products are displayed in their original packaging to reduce costs - Most of the produce at Aldi is sold bagged insists that shoppers bring their own bags ( which is already a thing for shoppers in New Jersey) and will charge you a refundable 25-cent deposit for a shopping cart  - The cashier will quickly total your groceries and put them in a cart You can then roll the cart over to a separate counter to pack them up yourself before leaving - Cheese lovers rave about the cheese selection and the value packaging of cheese at Aldi Gallery Credit: Eddie Davis Check out our list of things that make Aldi different...\nRead More ABSECON — An Aldi discount supermarket is set to open May 15 at 674 White Horse Pike and the store will then be open daily from 9 a.m the company said Thursday in a news release The first 100 customers will receive a gift bag containing store-exclusive products and a $100 gift card Shoppers also can enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card is to provide our customers with the best products at the lowest possible prices of any national grocer," said Bob Grammer "Our customers can save up to 36% on an average household’s shopping list ALDI is providing Absecon with easier access to quality groceries at affordable prices." joconnor@pressofac.com Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly Email notifications are only sent once a day Sign up for a digital subscription to The Press of Atlantic City now and take advantage of a great offer Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Hammonton council race is too close to call Republicans flipped an Atlantic City council seat and captured the Absecon mayoralty for the first time since 1988 Maria Lacca won a landslide victory over Democrat Mohammed M Huq in a court-ordered special election after the winner of the 2023 race was removed from office Muhammed “Anjum” Zia defeated Lacca by 45 votes last year but Atlantic County Assignment Judge Michael Blee removed him from office in August after finding that he lived with his family in Egg Harbor Township She will become the second Republican on the city council Republican Thomas Marrone ousted Absecon Mayor Kimberly Horton by 616 votes   Marrone was elected to the council in 2022 Horton has been mayor since 2019 and previously served six years as a councilwoman The race for three council seats in Hammonton is too close to call and independents Sam Rodio (3,284) and Steve Furgione (3,138) lead Republican Joseph Caruso (3,117) independent Jimmy Matro (2,867) and Republican Rick Sepe (2,808) Democrat Lisa Jiampetti was re-elected mayor of Egg Harbor City with 59% of the vote against Republican Ingrid Nieves-Clark Republican incumbents Brian Smith and Carolyn Bucci were re-elected was re-elected to the Buena Vista Township Committee  Republicans won both Hamilton Township Committee seats and three seats in Somers Point Connor Morrissey first became involved in his home parish of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton which helped to link his spirituality and faith with song “It was through the choir that I first saw that I could combine going to church and singing,” Morrissey said The 22-year-old would go on to study music composition at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts where he is currently in his last semester The connections to his faith have remained steady through his journey especially now as he prepares to present his senior capstone project – what he describes as “a classically-informed and theologically-sound setting of the Mass Ordinary and Propers to take place on the Tuesday Within the Octave of Easter.” “All of this music will be done in liturgical context,” Morrissey said “restoring the beautiful texts of the Mass to their proper place.” He will present his Mass setting on April 22 in Saint Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish (94 Somerset St. he is authoring a thesis chronicling his investigation into the history of liturgical music in the Catholic Church “While I have been familiar with the Mass pretty much since birth I had no idea how interconnected everything was until I sat down to set the texts to music,” Morrissey said “The beautifully incarnational theology of the Church set in motion through Christ’s inbreaking into our tiny human realm through the Nativity Morrissey said that his project came about thanks to the encouragement of his composition teacher who suggested he compose a Mass setting because of his interest in liturgical music he worked to incorporate all that he has learned as well as to reflect the interconnectivity of components of the Mass I try tying all of these things together in my Mass setting either by musical motif – like the same melody getting repeated across two different parts of the Mass – or through harmony and orchestration,” he explained Reflecting on his research and the development of his composition Morrissey describes it as “a labor of love.” In addition to exploring the history of liturgical music he also researched choral music through history in the Western European tradition as well as commentaries on Catholic theology – with a particular focus on 20th century theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar Morrissey was also the recipient of a prestigious grant that allowed him to spend 10 days at the Vatican last November with the Sistine Chapel Choir “My experiences researching in the Vatican were incredibly eye-opening,” he said “I was able to examine the rich musical traditions of the Church firsthand.” Morrisey audited a class on the Gregorian Chant at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and engaged in discussions with seminarians and music directors at the North American Pontifical College and the Venerable English College Perhaps his favorite experience was the opportunity to secure a much-cherished and sought-after ticket to attend a Papal Mass – as a guest of the Sistine Chapel Choir After Morrissey graduates from Rutgers later this year he will begin studies at the University of Notre Dame He will pursue a master of sacred music degree with a concentration on choral conducting; he is just one of three to be accepted to the program this year And while he does not know for sure what will come next “Through my training as a composer at Rutgers and my graduate study at Notre Dame I could definitely foresee a future career where I am able to compose sing and publish on this subject,” he said “Perhaps that will take the form of being in academia and researching this material or assisting in its creation as a parish music director musicians tend to have quite a few plates up in the air at any given point in time Morrissey encourages faithful to consider the words they are singing in the daily hymns – as well as the meaning behind them “Listen twice as loud as you sing,” he said “Your vocal participation is welcome – and needed – but pay deep attention to the words that you are singing I think you’ll be surprised at what you find.” What: Original Mass setting composed by Connor Morrissey Where: Saint Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish © All Rights Reserved | May 06, 2025 | Catholic Star Herald of the Diocese of Camden Add the Catholic Star Herald to your home screen For Android users(Chrome) tap the at the top right vertical 3 dots then tap “Add to Home Screen” For iPhone tap:at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen” If you need assistance with submitting your subscription, please call Neal Cullen at 856-583-6139, or email Neal.Cullen@camdendiocese.org © All Rights Reserved | May 06, 2025 | Catholic Star Herald of the Diocese of Camden Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardTwo beloved Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are providing therapy to help students learn First-grade reading scores have improved.First-grade reading scores have improved and behavior problems have decreased As middle school language arts teacher Shana Caputo moved around her social studies classroom she gently pulled a leash to guide the regular four-legged visitor: a Greater Swiss Mountain dog Caputo is among nearly three dozen staffers certified to handle Skye and his partner, Hope, therapy dogs who work in the Absecon Public Schools. The Swissies provide a calming presence for students who are feeling distressed or a friendly ear for struggling readers reluctant to read aloud The dogs are popular members of the teaching staff at H where they have a full schedule three days a week especially for the middle school students,” said Caputo “A lot of the students look forward to seeing the dogs.” During a recent morning lesson on ancient Rome Caputo moved around the special education classroom with Skye in tow He curiously sniffed a cabinet where Caputo stores snacks for students (but no treats for the dogs while working) In the elementary wing for another assignment Skye sat on the carpeted floor in Lisa Maletta’s classroom where a small group of first graders were matching words with phonics cards are you hiding the card?” she asked jokingly pulling the card from beneath the 140-pound dog Maletta said her students are more focused and pay better attention when the therapy animals are in the classroom she escorted Hope through the halls to her next class assignment It’s a great way to help the kids feel confident and comfortable,” said Maletta Superintendent Daniel Dooley initially started the pet therapy program with Skye a decade ago as a teacher in the Commercial Township School District in Cumberland County after researching the benefits of pet therapy He wanted a free program to try a different approach to reach special-needs students who comprised nearly one-third of the enrollment “People thought we were crazy,” Dooley recalled Dooley got the idea to use pets for therapy after his father was in a rehabilitation facility in 2005 and desperately missed his English bulldog After getting the dog certified as a service dog but other patients clamored for time with the bulldog Dooley wondered if that would have a similar impact on students who donated the dog to the district on the condition that Skye be permitted to show » READ MORE: At Westminster Dog Show, New Jersey therapy dog competed, but did not place for top prize Skye was a big hit in Commercial Township, socializing freely with students, cuddling and patiently listening to them read aloud. The Swissie was a perfect match, friendly and confident but never aggressive, Dooley said. He was certified as a therapy dog by FURever as Friends but had a great appearance at the most exclusive dog show in the country Skye has a more laid-back lifestyle in Absecon where Dooley has been school chief since 2019 They interact with about 150 to 300 kids weekly Sitting next to teacher Jordyn Glick as she read Good Boy Fergus, a story about a curious dog (Silent Mentors in Literacy Education) program Dooley said the impact has been astounding and has helped the schools address students’ social First-grade reading scores have improved and behavior problems have decreased Working with the dogs promotes good behavior because students can earn points to spend time with them The dogs also bring a calming presence to special-needs students prone to behavioral problems A student sent to a “reset room” with one of the dogs during a crisis typically settles down within minutes and can return to the classroom compared to an average of 17 minutes without a dog Unconditional love from Skye in a tough counseling session can get a child to open up about a sensitive subject A gentle nudge from the dog breaks down barriers Known as “the dog guy,” Dooley has become a pet therapy enthusiast and expert His program has become a model for educators across the country and he mentors about 100 schools with similar programs He testified last month at a state Assembly Education Committee on a bill that would create a three-year pilot program to assess the academic social and emotional benefit of animal therapy to students Programs initially would be set up in two districts in each of the state’s north central and southern regions and could expand statewide Experts say animal therapy can improve student achievement and boost self-esteem and confidence It also promotes character traits such as patience ”Sometimes they need to see a counselor. Sometimes they need to see a therapy dog,” said Michelle Pich, assistant director of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University “It help releases anxiety by grounding them.” parents may opt out of the program for children with pet allergies or fears of dogs They ride to work with him and are returned to his office at the end of the day Dooley maintains a distance from the dogs during school hours to avoid distracting them Dooley believes the program has benefited his students “Anything to make a child’s day brighter.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by DHY Motorsports (@dhynj) New Jersey has been a very important institute for learning for more than 100 years A brief description about who they are and what they consistently deliver is listed on their Facebook page: Outstanding academics with a faith-based education including excellent athletics & arts programs our two Daughters (Kristin and Lauren) are 2001 & 2004 graduates of Holy Spirit High School which were filled with fond memories that will last a lifetime 2025 will feature a very important (one) day of giving whereby the community is invited to directly help Holy Spirit continue to serve the community and create new memories for hopefully generations to come We can not just sit back and take for granted that since Holy Spirit High School has been here since 1922 … that this means it will always be here Important Catholic Schools have been closing all over America with increasing regularity We need to stay ahead of this undesirable curve You can make your contribution to Holy Spirit High School’s Day of Giving on April 10 "Caritas Omnia Vincit," which translates to "love conquers all.” Holy Spirit High School offers a great education and various extra and co-curricular activities … including programs and athletics … where they achieved great success in football Holy Spirit High was founded in Atlantic City (1922) and moved to Absecon in 1964 to the present I have had such a great time (every other year) in the Holy Spirit High press box for more than 30 years You can make your contribution Holy Spirit High School’s Day of Giving at: You can make a big difference with your contribution Holy Spirit High School, located in Absecon, New Jersey has been a very important institute for learning for more than 100 years.\nRead More couples renew their vows during a Valentine's Day ceremony at the Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City Wendy and Steven Blisnuk hold hands as they renew their wedding vows at the Absecon Lighthouse on Valentine's Day in Atlantic City on February 14 celebrates with couples after a vow renewal ceremony on Valentine's Day in Atlantic City Bill and Nicole Cipollone embrace one another after renewing their wedding vows on Valentine's Day at the Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City on February 14 Robert and Martyne Greenblatt celebrate Valentine's Day at the Absecon Lighthouse's annual wedding vow renewal event February 14 Flor and Wayne Dong pose for a photo inside of the Absecon Lighthouse on Valentine's Day in Atlantic City during the annual vow renewal event The Villagers will swim for the state championship against Immaculate Heart Academy at 9 a.m A man has been arrested for an armed robbery at a discount store in Absecon Friday night The Absecon Police Department says the heist happened just before 8:30 at the Dollar General store on the White Horse Pike officers were informed that a man entered the store and threatened employees while demanding cash The employees complied with the suspect's demands before he fled on foot Officers located a person matching the suspect's description in the area and initiated a foot pursuit He was seen running through residential yards before being detained by cops police did not release the identity of the suspect Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the Absecon Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at (609) 641-0667 The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law Gallery Credit: Chris Coleman A man has been arrested for an armed robbery at a discount store in Absecon Friday night.\nRead More The Absecon Police Department says the heist happened just before 8:30 at the Dollar General store on the White Horse Pike The landscape of a popular road in Absecon will look a little different in the not-too-distant future A building that once was the home to a hardware store along New Jersey Avenue is set to have a new brewery The new Royal Bine Brewing is finally set to open its doors to craft beer fans by Memorial Day at 102 New Jersey Avenue Taproom & Outdoor beer garden with plenty of parking I for one am really excited about this addition to the craft beer market.  I have seen the website and heard about this place for a few years but due to some hangups with COVID and some other issues there has been a delay in opening the brewery but we will finally get to enjoy this place soon there will be a dining area so patrons can bring in food from some of the area restaurants and have a beer with their food Their beer will be on display and be able to test out at The Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival at the Atlantic City Convention Center on March 29th Some of their beers are already out at certain spots which are currently being brewed at Pinelands Brewing Company Royal Bine Brewing joins a vibrant crafter beer scene in South Jersey which has a ton of great options.  Atlantic County has Garden State Brewery in Galloway) Somers Point Brewing Company in Somers Point Further out west and northbound up the Parkway but it will be nice to check out Royal Bine Brewing giving Atlantic County another great craft beer option Exciting news for beer lovers in South Jersey! Royal Bine Brewing is set to open on New Jersey Avenue in Absecon with a Brewhouse, Taproom, and outdoor beer garden.\nRead More The new Royal Bine Brewing is finally set to open its doors to craft beer fans by Memorial Day at 102 New Jersey Avenue I for one am really excited about this addition to the craft beer market.  I have seen the website and heard about this place for a few years after they were struck by a hit-an-run vehicle in Absecon The incident happened just after midnight Saturday morning Absecon Police say the man and his dog were struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Highland Boulevard and Marlborough Avenue Police say the dog was killed in the crash and the man sustained serious life-threatening injuries Absecon Police have identified the victim as Syed Hogue He was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment and ending up find a vehicle that matched the description of the one involved Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to contact Absecon Police at 609-641-0667 You can also make an anonymous tip via Atlantic County Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 - or along with any information,  to 274637 Gallery Credit: Jahna Michal Gallery Credit: Joe Kelly A man is critically injured, and a dog dead, after they were struck by a hit-an-run vehicle in Absecon.\nRead More but it's hard to argue with video evidence keep in mind we just share information about what's going on in and around local South Jersey towns to keep the public as informed as we can A video has gone viral on social media that shows a woman clearly swipe a tip jar from off a local South Jersey pizza place's counter and walk out the door with it Until it's confirmed in a report from the police department all we're doing at the moment is speculating The video clearly shows the woman chowing down on a slice of pizza from Joe and John's Pizza and Italian Restaurant you'll find it right across the street from the antique store on New Jersey Avenue It makes sense why'd she choose them for her pizza needs considering they've got a 4.3 rating out of 5 stars on Google. What wasn't cool was that it looked like she might have been having a conversation with someone behind the counter who had given her a piece of pizza only to then swipe the tip jar and b-line it out the door The footage was shared to a locally-based Facebook group where people have been commenting about how unfortunate of a situation that is for all involved Nobody can say for sure what this woman's circumstance is nor can they deny that it's not right to take what's rightfully the counter-person's hard earned money The only reason the owners even shared the footage in the first place was to alert other local small business owners about what had happened so they could be on the lookout The owner of Joe & Johnny's confirmed via Facebook that the police were able to identify the woman. Names have not been released. You can watch the footage for yourself HERE Gallery Credit: tsm/Timmy! Innocent until proven guilty, right? The suspect's name has yet to be revealed.\nRead More It makes sense why'd she choose them for her pizza needs considering they've got a 4.3 rating out of 5 stars on Google. What wasn't cool was that it looked like she might have been having a conversation with someone behind the counter who had given her a piece of pizza The owner of Joe & Johnny's confirmed via Facebook that the police were able to identify the woman. Names have not been released. You can watch the footage for yourself HERE Philadelphia District shared an update regarding periodic nourishment of the Absecon Island dune and beachfill project in New Jersey USACE awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Houston Texas for $38.2 million to complete periodic nourishment of the project The contract calls for dredging and placing 1.2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beaches of Absecon Island Sand will be dredged from two designated borrow areas – one located within Absecon Inlet and the other in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of the island which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events Most of the base contract work involves widening the beach in eroded areas concentrated in the northern end of Atlantic City and portions of Ventnor City Dune grass will be planted in areas that undergo repairs GLDD plans to mobilize to Atlantic City in November 2024 and to Ventnor City in December 2024 Construction is expected to take 2-4 months depending on weather and overall production Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox 2024 at 10:06 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The dog was killed in the crash at Highland Boulevard and Marlborough Avenue on Nov was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries NJ — A man and his dog were struck by a car shortly after midnight at a South Jersey intersection in a hit-and-run this weekend The dog was killed in the crash at Highland Boulevard and Marlborough Avenue on Nov Officers thoroughly searched the area and found a car matching the provided description This crash is still under investigation by the Absecon Police Department's Traffic Safety Unit with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about it is urged to contact Absecon police at (609) 641-0667 ext 214 and direct your information to the lead traffic investigator You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Atlantic County at (609) 652-1234 or by texting "TIPCOP" plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) Traffic was interrupted in the area for about four hours following the crash Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Absecon is hosting a Lenten retreat through song on Palm Sunday Death and Glory of Jesus Christ Through Scripture and Song,” at the church at 3 p.m The hourlong experience is a musical story and an opportunity to reflect on what that journey is all about “We’ve presented this devotional experience for 26 years in our home parish and at benefit events at other churches as well,” said Judy Transue Suite Inspiration’s producer and the parish music ministry director “It is an hour of beautiful and meaningful music with an incredibly powerful message It gives anyone listening a rare opportunity for deep contemplation on the amazing events of Holy Week.” She noted that the group’s musicians have performed Christmas concerts for more than three decades “We really enjoy performing Christmas music but we feel that people seldom get to hear the wealth of music that tells the story of the rest of Christ’s time on earth.” Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish is located at 591 New Jersey Ave., Absecon. The event is free and open to all. For more information, go to suiteinspiration.org “It was one gig right after another being canceled on the same day,” singer Nancy Malcun said about the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic “It felt like all my hard work and accomplishments that year were slowly being taken away I ended up having a panic attack when I went upstairs Absecon singer-songwriter Nancy Malcun performs solo at the Red Brick Ale House & Grille in North Cape May Absecon singer-songwriter Nancy Malcun remembers when she learned a state lockdown had started in March 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic She had only been booking herself for two months after using a booking agent for the first eight years of her career singing in public “I remember going upstairs to process what was happening while my husband was with our toddler downstairs It was one gig right after another being canceled on the same day,” said Malcun was an angel and reassured her they were a team It was a jarring experience for Malcun because for about eight years This was the first time she had experienced being unemployed as an adult for a significant period of time Although Gitto still had income at that time from being an insurance supervisor at NJM in Hammonton the family didn’t know whether his hours would be cut or whether he would have to work from home “My son (Ryland Hendrix Gitto) was also around 18 months old and being put in a position where I wasn’t able to provide for him was a really scary realization,” Malcun said “If anything happened to my husband and he had to take off work Self-employment was amazing for Malcun before COVID-19 because she landed a great deal of work doing what she loved singer-songwriter Nancy Malcun would finish a set and I never gave any thought because I did what I was passionate about every day and I need to make sure I am able to provide for myself in case anything happens,” Malcun said I was only able to bring in so much income.” Malcun never thought about what would happen if she lost her job for any reason “The whole COVID process made me realize that I need a steady income in case anything happens I recently made a decision to work a steady job with benefits and sing on the weekends The whole COVID process had a lot to do with that,” Malcun said The global live events industry lost more than $30 billion in 2020 due to the pandemic according to a year-end report by the live-entertainment industry trade publication Pollstar The projected total included unreported events and ancillary revenues sponsorships and other economic activity tied to live events Malcun had issues with putting her foot down and standing up for herself so sometimes I would just bend and end up doing things I necessarily didn’t want to do,” Malcun said about negotiating pay “I think becoming a mom in 2018 has really helped me gain confidence in myself and my decisions there was a particular example Malcun said she will never forget When the coronavirus began to spread across the country last month one of the first industries hit hardest was live music As restrictions tightened on what types of businesses were allowed to stay open with many left wondering what its fate would be In a town as entertainment-based as Atlantic City it’s all but unthinkable to imagine a version of the city without packed bars concert venues and nightclubs all featuring top-notch singers and someone from the public came up to me without one and got too close for comfort I politely asked him to create some distance because I was feeling uncomfortable He called me a ‘sheep’ and made me feel like I was wrong for creating a boundary,” Malcun said and Malcun and her family were still trying to be really careful with whom they interacted “I told him I would rather be safe than sorry “But being called a ‘sheep’ for wanting to maintain a six-foot distance between me and him would have normally made me feel a certain type of way and I honestly didn’t care what he had to say about it.” vjackson@pressofac.com Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly Labor Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo said he did not expect federal cuts through September but concern remains over possible future pruning who is playing outdoors at the Tuckahoe Inn in Beesleys Point Thursday July 16 Authorities are searching for two people who are wanted for allegedly assaulting a man late Sunday night The Absecon Police Department says the incident happened around 9:00 in the parking lot of a motel between Turner Avenue and The Home Depot on Route 30 the victim was lured to the location to meet an acquaintance Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Absecon Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at (609) 641-0667 Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Atlantic County by calling (609) 652-1234 Gallery Credit: Joe Votruba Authorities in Absecon are searching for two people who are wanted for allegedly assaulting a man late Sunday night.\nRead More The Absecon Police Department says the incident happened around 9:00 in the parking lot of a motel between Turner Avenue and The Home Depot on Route 30 Isn't it about time we here some good news that happened because of social media This is a heartwarming story about how a South Jersey mom reached out to social media for some help with her young son and people came through with plenty of warmth and generosity Amanda Danley posted about her quandary on both Facebook and Nextdoor was quickly approaching his eighth birthday he wanted to spend his birthday swimming in swimming pool Amanda says she checked out Swimply - the app that allows you to rent someone's pool for a few hours but that was cost prohibitive.  She also looked at booking a hotel room with a pool and asking if anyone would be willing to provide a low cost fee to allow Stevie to go swimming for an hour or two: "Literally all I want to do is take my little boy swimming for a couple of hours It doesn't have to be on his birthday and it can be any time that is convenient for the homeowner Would anyone be willing to let me bring my son swimming Many tried to offer low or no-cost suggestions - but says several people reached out and offered Stevie the opportunity to swim in their pools - no charge Amanda followed up on her original Nextdoor post with this: "The birthday boy will be swimming on his birthday!" "We had about 15 different invitations to go swimming but I did not want to be greedy or take advantage of anyone's kindness so we ended up swimming at 2 places - one on Friday It truly made my son's birthday extra special." but my faith in mankind (and social media) has been restored READ MORE: Real Stories - Galloway Soccer Mom Talks About Heroin Addiction This is a heartwarming story about how a South Jersey mom reached out to social media for some help with her young son, and people came through with plenty of warmth and generosity.\nRead More READ MORE: Real Stories - Galloway Soccer Mom Talks About Heroin Addiction There's been another setback in Absecon's plan to bring a combination convenience store/gas station to the intersection of Rt Absecon Council President Rich DeRose posted Sunday on the Absecon Facebook page with the news that Wawa has changed its mind about building a super Wawa at the former firehouse location on Rt Saying he was limited in the information he could legally give about the situation DeRose said that Wawa seemed committed to building on the site until the last minute "Wawa was committed to Absecon until late last minute our zoning office was informed that Wawa was pulling out of their commitment to the new site Please know it has nothing to do with Absecon or actions by Absecon Major blow to that site and we're upset and disappointed we won't allow this setback to go unchecked." DeRose went on to say that Mayor Tommy Marrone has requested a meeting with the site's developer to better understand Wawa's decision and to express the city's commitment to opening a successful business at the location Absecon's old firehouse at 400 White Horse Pike was demolished in 2021 in preparation for a Royal Farms convenience store and gas station The property was then sold to another developer, Verrichia Company The latest plan called for a super Wawa to be open on the site by this spring given Council President DeRose's social media post it looks like it's back to the drawing board council and the mayor are full speed ahead on fixing this wrong Gallery Credit: Eddie Davis Strike 2 at this WHP location...\nRead More Absecon Council President Rich DeRose posted Sunday on the Absecon Facebook page with the news that Wawa has changed its mind about building a super Wawa at the former firehouse location on Rt Atlantic City commuters are getting tired of being rerouted due to the stupid drawbridge that keeps malfunctioning In case you're unaware of the drawbridge that sits on Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard) that connects the mainland to Atlantic City because you're about to get an earful I'll admit that the news of the drawbridge getting stuck again doesn't impact me on my daily commute that doesn't mean I don't feel for everybody that needs to get into Atlantic City one way or another it sounds like they'll have to choose one of the other routes into the city.. The Atlantic City Police Department has confirmed that the Route 30 drawbridge is stuck once again For all the commuters that take that route into the city everyday this is discouraging news to say the least Not only does that mean they'll have to switch up their entire morning and afternoon routes but they'll have to do so for the 4th time this year alone Will this finally be the malfunction that gets the bridge fixed once and for all this doesn't set anybody back too much that traffic will be a nightmare trying to get in and out of the city for the time-being The police department is pretty good with keeping the public up-to-date of the restoration progress We should all know more as they discover new information Gallery Credit: Rich De Sisto Route 30 Absecon Boulevard drawbridge in Atlantic City remains a headache for commuters as it gets stuck again, marking the fourth malfunction this year alone.\nRead More UPDATE at 1:20- The roadway is OPEN.\n\nUPDATE- Bridge operators are expecting a lengthy delay.\n\nThe Absecon Drawbridge on.. Authorities in Absecon say an investigation into a recent hit-and-run crash has lead to two people - a father and his son - being arrested after an alleged false confession when a man and his dog were struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Highland Boulevard and Marlborough Avenue; the driver fled the scene The dog was killed and the man, 25-year-old Syed Hoque of Absecon was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries During their investigation, officers located a vehicle matching a description and stopped it. Initially, 52-year-old Byron A. Jones of Mays Landing was arrested for his alleged involvement, which was later revealed to be a cover-up, according to police Utilizing digital forensic analysis along with traditional investigative methods Crash Investigators determined that Amir A was the operator of the vehicle at the time of the incident Jones was charged with the following offenses: The Absecon Police Department’s Traffic Safety unit was assisted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office in this case Authorities in Absecon say an investigation into a recent hit-and-run crash has lead to two people - a father and his son - being arrested after an alleged false confession.\nRead More The dog was killed and the man, 25-year-old Syed Hoque of Absecon During their investigation, officers located a vehicle matching a description and stopped it. Initially, 52-year-old Byron A. Jones of Mays Landing was arrested for his alleged involvement, which was later revealed to be a cover-up, according to police How about staying at Taylor Swift's house (It's not her house in the sense that she owns it but it's her house in the sense that it's all about her - Taylor Swift!) you'll find Evermore Estate - the Taylor Swift house created by Kyle and Ashley Tress and local Airbnb manager Krista Baum The property is located on Shore Road at Church Street in Absecon and has been decorated in a Taylor Swift theme Kyle Tress says the idea came about after his and Ashley's recent wedding which was inspired by Swift's Folklore album Kyle said they knew that had to set their property apart from others in the area and all three agreed that a Taylor Swift theme would do just that she proposed this idea based on our mutual interests and we decided that we loved the idea of a Taylor Swift-themed Airbnb and decided to run with it!" Kyle says the three came up with the themes and decorations for the house "One of the main things we did was that each bedroom and area of the house is based on a different album era of Taylor Swift." The house is a nice size, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.  Find out about renting the property here. The Taylor Swift house is available for Taylor's birthday weekend The trio plans an open house to showcase the home this Sunday Don't forget your Taylor Swift-themed outfit!) Find out more about the property here. Gallery Credit: Nicole Taylor You've seen Taylor Swift, you have all of her music and her swag. What's next?\nRead More The house is a nice size, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.  Find out about renting the property here. Find out more about the property here. One person is dead following an early morning accident on Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard) in Absecon Absecon Police say the accident happened about 3:30 am Sunday on Route 30 Police say the vehicle's driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with police Police have not identified the person who was killed - nor have they identified the driver of the vehicle Traffic in the area was interrupted for about four hours Absecon Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward you're urged to contact the Absecon Police Department Traffic Safety Unit at (609) 641-0667 extension 214 Information should be directed to the lead traffic investigator in case #858 SOURCE: Absecon Police Department One person is dead following an early morning accident on Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard) in Absecon.\nRead More Absecon Police say the accident happened about 3:30 am Sunday on Route 30 SOURCE: Absecon Police Department Father and daughter Kenny and Gabrielle Ward plan to open Royal Bine Brewing in downtown Absecon by Memorial Day ABSECON — Kenny and Gabrielle Ward got tired of updating the “Coming Soon” sign that sits in the front window of their business After a long five years — which included COVID-19 the buying of the building and countless repairs — the Wards have their answer Find out about the latest food trends in South Jersey and beyond by subscribing to our Food … looks to begin brewing beer on site by Memorial Day “It’s pretty exciting once we can get through these next few months,” Ward said last month inside a hollowed-out space that’s ready to be transformed into a brewery Gabrielle Ward has a vision of turning the former hardware store into a brewery with a cozy cafe vibe On either side of the entrance are two nooks where she would like to place comfortable seating and create an inviting atmosphere “This is going to feel more like a coffee shop,” the 27-year-old said “You can come in on your lunch break; you can sit and enjoy (one of the nooks) and there’s greenery and so much natural light and the old school wood We just want to keep the charming storefront look and feel.” The taproom will also include a dining area for people who want to bring in food from several of the spots in downtown Absecon reopened Thursday after about a month-and-a-half closure for refurbishments which not many breweries in the area can say they have “We’re going to keep a great vibe in here because our brewers will be here three to four days a week,” Kenny said We want to be able to take people on tours even though the tour isn’t required (by state regulations) anymore People want to see where their beer’s coming from and we want to be proud of the brewhouse and everything with it.” Kenny Ward entered into an agreement to lease the space in early 2020 so he could convert it into a brewery including structural issues and some pushback from the landlord plus thousands of dollars that Ward paid out of pocket he was ready to pull the plug on the project the owner of the building decided to just sell it outright to Ward to own it is obviously better down the road but right now it’s a little bit of a financial burden because it wasn’t in the scope of (getting loans) and in the scope of time,” he said The two were picking hops on a farm in Colts Neck when they got the inspiration for the name Mike's Seafood Run/Walk for Autism drew about 5,000 people Saturday a Presidents Day weekend tradition in Cape May County every year “We looked at each other and thought it was the coolest name,” Gabrielle said we had an inkling we wanted to do something on our own.” it’s because they want to use the best ingredients in their beer Gabrielle and Kenny have been on this beer journey together a long time they worked together at Ship Bottom Brewery in Beach Haven Kenny in sales and Gabrielle in the tap room Gabrielle also has made connections in the beer industry working alongside Jon Henderson whose Good Time Tricycle Productions runs some of the area’s biggest events including the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival The Wards continuing to work together and having a place to call their own is special “I’ve always looked up to him,” Gabrielle said of her father “It’s where my entrepreneurial spirit comes from I went to graphics school at Stockton while all my friends were out getting amazing paying corporate jobs with benefits Mayor Tommy Marrone stopped by the brewery in late January to see how the progress was going said having a brewery open up could be a catalyst to improving the city’s downtown Other new businesses have recently opened on New Jersey Avenue to join the handful of pizzerias and restaurants in the area who grew up in Absecon and remembers when the downtown thrived is excited for what Royal Bine will bring to the area Super Bowl Sunday is going to be a big day for any establishment around South Jersey that serves beer and food and has at least one TV on the wall Markets and grocery stores also see a boom in customers who plan to prepare their own meals for the big game “Breweries are an attraction all over the place Look at Hammonton and their downtown areas,” said Marrone I truly do believe this is the start of something great for our city and puts a unique stamp on New Jersey Avenue Kenny Ward can see Royal Bine benefiting from two other breweries just off Route 30 — Garden State Beer Company in Galloway Township and The Seed: A Living Beer Project in Atlantic City But it’s a partnership with Pinelands Brewing Company in Little Egg Harbor Township that has allowed Royal Bine to get some beers out to the world Brewing under the Pinelands name as a collaboration all of which rotate on some of the nearby taps — Worth the Wait Kölsch Ale All of the recipes are by Royal Bine head brewer Mike Stark who used to work for Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands The kölsch and maibock will both be poured at the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival next month so more people will be able to get a taste of what Royal Bine will have to offer and we have a whole plethora of flavors we want to make,” Kenny said A look at Royal Bine Brewing and owners Kenny Ward and daughter Gabrielle Ward who will be opening their brewery in Absecon later this year Absecon Mayor Tommy Marrone stopped by Royal Bine Brewing to show his support and see the progress that owners Kenny Ward and daughter Gabrielle Ward have made on refurbishing the space that will be housing their brewery on New Jersey Avenue in Absecon later this year At Royal Bine Brewing on New Jersey Avenue in Absecon owner Kenny Ward talks about the journey he and his daughter Gabrielle have made since 2020 with all the ups and downs that brought them to now hopefully opening their doors for this summer owner Kenny Ward talks about the struggles he and his daughter Gabrielle have had dealing with contractors adding that he hopes that an opening for the establishment may happen for this summer owner Gabrielle Ward talks about the next stage in devloping the brewery with business partner and father Kenny Ward which would be finishing the interior and getting ready for the doors to open hopefully by the summer owner Kenny Ward stands in the space where he hopes to see stainless steel containers brewing up beer later this year in Absecon owners Kenny Ward and daughter Gabrielle Ward have been working on this labor of love since 2020 and hope to have the doors open for the summer owners Kenny Ward and daughter Gabrielle Ward are hoping to have the doors open for the summer jrusso@pressofac.com With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food A handful of local breweries made their first trip to the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival last weekend A look at Royal Bine Brewing and owners Kenny and Gabrielle Ward The USACE Philadelphia District has just released a couple of photos from the recently completed beach nourishment work on Absecon Island (Atlantic City and Ventnor) conducted by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD) beach preservation and maintaining public access along Absecon Island The dredging and pumping operations began on November 24 at the northern end of Atlantic City The contract included dredging and placing 1.2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beaches Sand for the project came from two designated borrow areas – one located within Absecon Inlet and the other in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of the island Coyne welcomes parishioners to the reopening of St 31 at Villa Rafaella in Pleasantville at age 94 “He was a treasure and inspiration in each of our lives here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish,” a church Facebook post said He served in various pastoral ministries for 66 years, and in 1975 he was appointed founding pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where he ministered for 27 years, according to his obituary said his longtime associate Father Patrick Brady Brady emigrated to the Camden Diocese from Ireland in 1964 and was sent first to Our Lady Star of the Sea in Atlantic City but upon arriving I was part of the long black line from Cork to Camden in those days,” Brady said There was an abundance of clergy in Ireland and the church encouraged them to go abroad to serve Philadelphia sports teams and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame SOMERS POINT — Hundreds of people filled the pews and aisles of St Coyne continued to assist on weekends at Our Lady Star of the Sea He helped out with the weekend Masses,” Pham said he had a home there and drove to my parish in Atlantic City every Sunday Pham called Coyne a compassionate man with a big heart “He was a very straightforward man,” Pham said played organ at Our Lady Star of the Sea from the 1990s to her retirement in 2020 “His favorite song ever was ‘A Mother’s Love is a Blessing,’” Tosh said of the Irish song Coyne returned to Ireland from time to time Longport administrator and former borough police chief Scott Porter has died, according to statement from the Police Department on Facebook But he wasn’t a big fan of long musical interludes at Mass After she and a choral group did the entire “We Three Kings” at Epiphany Coyne put his foot down — lightly and with humor “We were in the rectory having breakfast (between Masses) and Monsignor Coyne very quietly and drily says ‘If you want to sing all the verses of the song next time put it at the end so I don’t have to stand there,’” Tosh said and people looked up to him as a man of integrity Pham left Our Lady Star of the Sea about nine years ago and is now the pastor at Infant Jesus Parish in Woodbury Heights “Just last week I came to see him at his residence in assisted living,” Pham said Coyne had most recently been living at Villa Raffaella Assisted Living in Pleasantville a Catholic assisted living community owned and operated by the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy Pantalena and Coyne often walked the Atlantic City Boardwalk together With churches closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic Tosh called Coyne “the kind of person who would put a little humor with what he was going to say but had a message that was deep to convey.” but did play for one he presided over after feeling a bit “coerced” into it was something I needed to hear,” Tosh said He had a way of not preaching at you but giving you a good message to live by.” An additional viewing will be held at the parish from 9 a.m followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter