By   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

In a July 2007 listing of the nation’s most affordable housing markets, Wells Fargo Bank and the National Association of Home Builders ranked Atlantic City in the lackluster 32 percentile—meaning only 32 percent of those who work here can also afford to live here.

In that study, published by CNN and based on reports from the first quarter of last year, the median price for an Atlantic City home was $260,000; the median income for families in the vicinity was $64,000. (Other studies put the median income at about $50,000.)

“Median income” does not denote average income, but the precise mid-point in the range—from comfortably high to just-getting-by, and everything in between. So in 2008, 30 years after the influx of casinos was supposed to bring plentiful affordable housing to Atlantic City, the data would seem to suggest that most people who work here are still priced out of the market.

Frank Formica disagrees.

“There’s a ton of people who work here with houses in other areas—young people, new blood—who could easily afford a home. That 32 percent statistic is freaking ridiculous. People want to come here, but there’s no product.”

Formica is working to change that. The baker-turned-developer is the driving force behind AC Estates, with two- and three-bedroom condominiums starting at $249,900.

“If you check with any realtor, $249,900 at 5.5 percent on a mortgage is certainly well-attainable for a couple working as dealers, assistant chefs or cooks. My bakery workers could afford it,” says Formica. The Ducktown homes are within walking distance of the casinos, the Walk, the beach and the Boardwalk. “And they’re in walking distance of my bakery café,” Formica jokes.

President since 1993 of the Ducktown Revitalization Association, Formica believes Atlantic City is becoming a viable, desirable locale for residential neighborhoods.

“Between 1990 and 2002, most casino workers wanted to live in Egg Harbor Township, Galloway or the suburbs of Ventnor and Margate,” he says. “Then an amazing thing started to happen. By 2004, there was actually a center of town, with shopping and non-casino development. There was the Convention Center, and Boardwalk Hall. There was the feeling that Atlantic City would have a revitalization, like Philadelphia, New York, Harlem. It wasn’t a bad place to live anymore. People wanted to give it a chance.”

But the development boom that’s transformed other parts of Atlantic County has been slow to reach Atlantic City. Rows of squalid single and row homes sit empty in the shadow of the Revel construction. New and flourishing neighborhoods on the island’s north end flank blocks of dilapidated homes on prime land. And the ongoing housing slump, which signals opportunity to some, is a flashing red light to others.

“Residential building permits were down in 2007 by 25 percent to 30 percent over 2006,” says Joe Seneca of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers. “New permits were down too.”

Contract sales—sales of new and existing homes—were also down by one-fourth last year. The stalled market is unlikely to loosen up in the first half of this year, Seneca says.

“New Jersey has all the same symptoms of the nation in terms of its housing market, and it’s going to be quite some time before housing again contributes to economic growth here.”

Even rentals are scarce. Along Atlantic Avenue, the city’s main street, space above commercial properties that could be used for housing is often turned into storage because renovation or redevelopment is too expensive.

“A lot of times when you add up the rent value versus construction costs, the credit and debit columns don’t add up,” says Ralph Triboletti, economic development director for the city’s Special Improvement District.

The Division of Community Affairs provides some underwriting for property owners who want to invest in reasonably priced housing. Incentives include up to $35,000 per unit to construct low- to moderate-income housing, $20,000 to $25,000 for moderate-income to market-rate housing, and about $15,000 for market rate and above.

That’s not much of an incentive. With renovations costing about $175 per square foot, and the average two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot apartment renting for $900 to $1,100, owners who rehab don’t see a return.

“There is a lot of interest in living and working in Atlantic City,” says Triboletti. “But when you get to quality housing here, the word ‘affordable’ is usually not attached… Three hundred units downtown would put an extra 600, 700 people here every day, but it’s like the chicken and the egg. Without the people, it’s tough to have the marketplace. Without the marketplace, it’s tough to have the people.”

Atlantic City has a year-round population of approximately 40,000 people living in fewer than 16,000 households. Some estimates suggest that the same number of people could come to South Jersey to work when the current wave of casino construction and expansion is complete, starting in 2012. Will they, like so many others, opt to live out of the city?

“The type of downtown residential development that’s made sense in other places in New Jersey should have the same economic advantages for Atlantic City,” says Seneca. Given the wobbly housing market and the city’s less-than-stellar political and fiscal history, builders may be wary of investing here.

“You have a lot of dollars going into the economic development of Atlantic City. There’s more in the works; the collective judgment behind all that is there is a probable great opportunity,” says Seneca. “But where there is an upside potential for profit, there’s also a significant downside risk for loss.”

So where are the casino workers going when their shifts are over? According to Richard Perniciaro, director of the Center of Regional and Business Research at Atlantic Cape Community College, those in search of a bargain are going to the Bridgeton-Vineland-Millville “triangle,” to Pleasantville, Galloway or even farther afield. As they move up and earn more money, they’re choosing Egg Harbor Township, Buena, Egg Harbor City and Mays Landing.

Throughout the regional housing boom, “Atlantic City and Asbury Park are two (cities) whose housing markets remained depressed,” says Perniciaro. “Atlantic City is the last place on the shore to go through a housing renaissance.”

The city’s imminent revaluation and the increase in property taxes won’t make life any easier. “With salaries hovering around $30,000, people have been able to make ends meet because they have two wage-earners in the family. Now we are at the margin of doing that. It’s more and more difficult.”

Perniciaro isn’t sure the new casinos will bring tens of thousands of new employees (and potential homeowners) to the city.

“There are less casino employees today than 15 years ago—it’s at the lowest point since before the Taj Mahal opened. To control labor costs, the casinos have consolidated and merged (some jobs). They’ve gotten rid of coin collectors, for example. When Borgata opened, they brought no new workers in. They took people from other houses, and the other houses tightened their belts.”

No matter how many new employees come to Atlantic City in the years to come, the dream of home ownership will remain. Those who work here today may well decide to live here when enough reasonably priced homes in good neighborhoods become available.

“You have a good number of dealers and slot hosts who want to stay close to the casinos and walk to work,” says Todd Gordon, of Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors. “And we do have three-bedroom row homes and single homes for people who can spend between $150,000 and $200,000. That’s a mortgage of $1,200 or $1,500 a month.”

If things evolve as Frank Formica predicts, the neighborhoods of Atlantic City could develop like those in Hoboken and Harlem, Philadelphia’s Manayunk section, or Fishtown along the Delaware River, which became so gentrified, new residents and old now jokingly refer to it as “Haddock Heights.’”

With the revival of Ducktown in Atlantic City, maybe the neighborhood will change to Mallard Manor.

Buy Now, Appreciate Later

The sub-prime lending debacle has created a glut in the housing market with some prices down, construction on hold and For Sale signs gathering cobwebs.

Is this the time to shop for that dream home, or should you wait to see if market continues to deflate? Without a crystal ball, every decision includes an element of chance.

“If you have good credit, don’t have an existing house to sell and are able to meet tightening credit standards, you may find the current period, with falling prices and lots of choices, a pretty good time to think about buying,” says analyst Joe Seneca of Rutgers University.

“The question then is, ‘When will prices hit bottom?’ Now may be a good time to buy, but three months down the line may be even better. That’s the psychology of the market.”

A note of caution: because this is the Jersey Shore, plenty of homes are holding their value or even rising in price, because second homeowners are seldom in a rush to bargain. You’ll find the best prospect for a good deal with a motivated seller.

“However, if you have to sell a house to buy the next one, as most people do, you’re caught in the middle,” says Seneca. “Selling and buying simultaneously in a weak market is problematic.”

Dueling Analysts

It’s a real head-scratcher.

Despite daily reports of a nationwide housing slump—with stagnant inventory, plummeting prices and uneasy investors—last month it was announced that home prices are up—way up—in and around Atlantic County.

In February, the National Association of Realtors released fourth quarter 2007 housing data showing that housing prices nationwide fell 5.8 percent over the same quarter in 2006. The data also showed that the median price of a home in Atlantic County went up almost twice that amount—by 10.7 percent—in the same time period. (The median means that half the homes in the area are going for more and half for less.)

But those figures may be woefully deceptive. Here’s a (real-life) case in point: In 2003, a home in one of Northfield’s nicest neighborhoods sold for $520,000. The new homeowners sank well over $70,000 into improvements like a finished basement with state-of-the-art media center, an all-new new kitchen and new fencing. Two years later the same house, with all its magnificent upgrades, went on the market at $700,000—and sold for $570,000.

Though the value of their house seemed to jump by $50,000 in two years, the homeowners took a loss of more than $30,000. And they certainly didn’t realize the appreciation they were banking on.

That unfortunate couple got in on the tail end of the housing boom, when flipping houses seemed like the one get-rich-quick scheme that could not fail, and would never go away.

Michael Kinsley predicted today’s slump—some would call it an inevitable correction—way back in February 2005, just before the bubble burst, when “experts” were still forecasting steady growth in perpetuity.

In the Washington Post, Kinsley wrote, “Whatever ‘experts’ say, it is not the nature of price explosions to segue gracefully into more moderate growth. When today's run-ups are based on beliefs about tomorrow's run-ups, the self-feeding frenzy goes into reverse when those assumptions are dashed.”

So, before accepting as gospel the NAR data, which suggests Atlantic County homes are gaining in value while prices around the country continue a downward spiral, look at other analyses. A report from the Otteau Valuation Group of New Brunswick indicates home prices were flat in the last three months of 2007. The Standard & Poors Case Shiller Home Price Index says home prices in Atlantic County were actually down by 6.5 percent in the third quarter of 2007.

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? As real estate expert James Bednar observed in an interview with the Star-Ledger, “How does that old saying go? A man with two clocks never knows what time it is.”

By   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

In the 1980s, Princess Diana’s wedding gown set the standard for lavish romanticism, and brides of the era quickly followed suit.

The dress, by English designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was a frothy meringue of ivory silk and tulle with full gathered sleeves, a voluminous skirt, 10,000 handset pearls and a 25-foot train. (The veil, by contrast, was quite simple, as was Diana’s hair: a becoming bob beneath a diamond coronet.)

It was a beautiful, unforgettable dress; not so the fads that followed it. For years thereafter, everyday brides tried to outdo Di with enormous dresses, the fussier the better. Unlike the princess, they often topped them with elaborate headpieces, until the whole getup looked like something out of the Mummers Parade. Then they dressed their bridesmaids in similar (but multi-colored) gowns and dyed-to-match shoes, and photographers were on hand to record the whole fashion misfortune.

Luckily, all things must pass. By the 1990s, the super-sized post-Diana dress gave way to the sort of simple, elegant profile popularized by designers like Vera Wang.

That silhouette persists today. Brides have discovered that when it comes to your wedding day, elegance often trumps extravagance, and originality beats conformity.

Tesi Miteva, owner of Tesi’s Bridal Boutique in Ventnor, says deep jewel tones of burgundy, red and claret are most popular among this year’s bridal attendants. That changes if it’s a wedding at or near the beach.

“A lot of Jersey girls get married in Cape May, at yacht clubs, and at places like the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City,” she says. “Especially in spring and summer and especially at the beach, they’re looking for fabrics like chiffon, and colors like ocean blue and Bahama breeze.”

This year’s great silhouette is the “mermaid” style, which hugs the body from the bodice through the hips to about mid-calf, where the skirt flares out. (Like Barbie’s “Solo in the Spotlight” gown.)

“It’s a sexy look with a little more fit and flare,” says Miteva.

But if you have an ample figure, you may want to choose another style, because this one actually adds curves.

For bridesmaids and mothers of the bride, suits and cocktail-length dresses are overtaking gowns as the popular choice. Tina Conklin, of Wedding Belles Boutique in Linwood, says many brides these days are selecting a single color—magenta, coral, blue, even black—and letting their bridesmaids wear a number of different styles in the same hue. Great idea (but make sure the colors match)!

Here are some trends you’ll see at weddings this year, courtesy of the Wedding Channel, bridal magazine The Knot, and local bridal consultants.

• THE HALTER NECKLINE. For several years, the strapless dress reigned as the most popular style among brides-to-be. It may be displaced this year by the halter, which also showcases a woman’s back and bosom, but does away with the fear of northern exposure. Cap sleeves are also pretty, as is the “tip of the shoulder” neckline, also called a Sabrina or bateau.

• THE LAYERED OR TIERED LOOK. Lots of layers flutter as you walk, and give your gown movement on the dance floor. “It’s a soft silhouette, and very forgiving for the less-than-perfect figure,” says Conklin. So you can relax, and eat!

• LUSH LACE, FAUX FLOWERS. The Wedding Channel’s Spring 2008 Couture Show included plenty of lace and silken flowers. The shapes are contemporary, but the details are sweetly old-fashioned, giving you the best of both worlds.

• SPARKLY ACCENTS. Three-dimensional elements that add texture are “very hot” right now, says The Knot. For example, a gown recently featured on Good Morning America had a satin skirt, a jeweled sweetheart bodice and embroidered flowers on the skirt.

• COLOR. A wedding dress these days need not be virginal white; some brides are choosing silvery lilacs, blush pinks, butter yellows and other hues for the big day. If you like the traditional white, dress it up with a splash of color in a sash, bow or embroidery. (But the bride who wears black may rue the day she chose such a funereal color. One fashion icon who wore black on her big day—Sarah Jessica Parker—has said she regrets that bold decision.)

• THE BIRDCAGE VEIL. When Reese Witherspoon wore one in Sweet Home Alabama, she started a revival of the vintage veil that continues today (Priscilla Presley also wore one when she married Elvis). A birdcage is made of openwork netting that covers just the face. It’s an elegant alternative to the traditional long veil, or you can wear one to the ceremony and switch to a birdcage for the reception. Birdcage veils look great with a pillbox hat.

• REMOVABLE TRAINS. Go dramatic for the wedding. At the party, shuck the caboose and dance. For a wedding on the beach, choose a sweep train (it barely brushes the ground, so you’ll gather less sand).

• ONE WEDDING, TWO DRESSES. Says Conklin, “A lot of our brides are wearing a traditional ball gown to the church and changing into a sheath or a short, fun cocktail dress to the party.”

Word to the Wise Bride

Decide your wedding dress budget before you try on dresses, and resolve to stick to it. About 10 percent should be set aside for gown, accessories, shoes, etc.

Wedding Dress Do’s & Don’ts

• DON’T LET FADS DICTATE YOUR WEDDING STYLE; what seems chic this year may look hopelessly dated in the years to come.

• DO THINK “TIMELESS.” Imagine poring over your wedding album 20 years from now. Will you love or hate your choice of gown, hair, veil and accessories? Classic silhouettes and simple lines are a virtual guarantee that your style will endure. (Hint: Think Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn, and you’ll do just fine.)

• DON’T STRIVE TO BE SOMETHING YOU’RE NOT. Your wedding is not a masquerade ball; your goal should be to look like the loveliest version of yourself. If you typically prefer a natural look, for example, why not wear your hair loose, with a few tendrils caught up in diamond clips, instead of trying for a lacquered up-do?

• DO BE KIND TO YOUR BRIDESMAIDS. Choose a dress that complements every figure, is suitable for wearing again, and does not break the bank. Have you seen 27 Dresses? Even Katharine Heigl looked silly in that Scarlett O’Hara-at-the-Twelve-Oaks-barbecue gown. For friendships that last, don’t make your girls wear ugly clothes!

Selective Boldness

If you're wearing upswept hair—a French twist, Juliet knot, chignon or similar style—drop earrings can add drama. For short hair, pearl or diamond studs are popular.

Don’t overdo it—your wedding day is not an excuse to pile on. If you wear sparkling chandelier earrings, forget the necklace. Too much jewelry makes you look “gussied up” and overdone.

Are you wearing a backless dress? Consider wearing a lariat necklace that cascades down your back. You’ll look sensational coming and going. But keep the earrings minimal.

Makeup, too, must be applied judiciously. Says makeup artist Maria Viso, of Picture Perfect Makeup, “You can go for a natural look in the daytime, or a dramatic effect for an evening wedding, but you never want to look too made-up. The whole idea is to look like yourself at your most beautiful.”

Flowery Sentiment

Here come the bridesmaids: one in yellow, carrying a sheaf of calla lilies; one in red, with a nosegay of red roses; and one in peach, holding a spray of vibrant Shasta daisies.

Here comes the groom, sophisticated in black with a white gardenia boutonniere.

Finally, here comes the bride, with an arrangement of periwinkle Vanda orchids.

Get the picture? At the contemporary wedding, the flowers—from bouquets to boutonnieres, corsages to centerpieces—don’t have to be identical. It’s more fun and certainly more colorful to mix it up.

Big colors this year: plums, blues and lavenders in monochromatic arrangements. Cascading bouquets and hand-tied French twist bouquets with pearls and ribbons also make a dramatic statement. The most popular wedding flowers are calla lilies, Casablanca lilies, gardenias, hydrangeas, lilacs, lilies of the valley, orchids, roses, tulips and stephanotis.

Bridal Traditions

Strange meanings of our most durable traditions

• THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE of a bridal party was to fool evil spirits. The bride’s friends dressed like her in order to confuse any malevolent entities.

• IN ANCIENT TIMES, when men sometimes kidnapped women into marriage, they recruited their strongest friends to help them fight off the bride’s family. Thus began the tradition of the best man.

• IN ENGLAND, women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s gown and flowers to “steal” her good luck. To escape from the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet, then run off. Today the bouquet is tossed to single women with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry.

Reel Love

Top 5 romantic movies (and a few cheesy classics) Want to get in the mood? These romantic movies are made to be watched with someone you love.

Really Romantic:

Two for the Road. Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney are splendid in this bittersweet story of a passionate but often-troubled marriage. Thankfully, love prevails, and you’ll adore the wryly happy ending. The exquisite score is by Henry Mancini.

The Quiet Man. John Wayne has never been more appealing (or sexy)! He plays Sean Thornton, an American ex-pugilist hiding a painful past. He goes to Ireland to start anew, and there finds love with the fiery Maureen O’Hara.

Bridges of Madison County. In the capable hands of Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, the super-cheesy bestseller by Robert James Waller was transformed into a touching tale of love and loss, duty and regret. Stock up on the Kleenex!

Sense and Sensibility. In this faithful retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Emma Thompson is a spinster trying her best to live without love, even as her strong-willed sister (Kate Winslet) pursues it at every turn. In the end, everyone wins.

The Way We Were. The combative chemistry between star-crossed lovers Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford ignites this love story, set against the worldwide turbulence of the 1940s. Though their happy ending proves elusive, this may be the ultimate romance.

And the Golden Cheese Ball goes to:

An Affair to Remember. After a shipboard romance, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr agree to ditch their lovers and rendezvous six months hence at the Empire State Building (er, this is after he stops being a gigolo and starts being a famous painter). But she gets hit by a bus on the way and, plucky girl, vows never to tell him she’s paralyzed. He starts drinking and takes another cruise. Boy, do these kids need counseling!

Love Story. Poor but plucky Vassar girl falls in love with bazillionaire Harvard lad. His bourgeois parents disapprove, so the young sweethearts vow they will live on love alone. Alas, poor Vassar gets sick and expires. Harvard cries a single tear. This is sodden sentimentality at its best, with a wooden Ali McGraw as the doomed Jenny, and that cloying string-filled score.

Sleepless in Seattle. Pay no attention to the absurd plot of this three-hanky tearjerker about a plucky widowed dad, his annoyingly precocious son and the ditsy journalist who loves them (even though she doesn’t know them). Concentrate instead on the uncomfortable feeling of your heartstrings being jerked right out of your chest, twisted into a knot, and gnawed on by beavers. (What a coincidence—these guys end up at the top of the Empire State Building too!)

By Michelle Wise   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

No one wakes up one morning to find himself overweight and out of shape. The descent from fitness to fatness, from vigorous energy and well-being to couch-bound inertia, usually happens gradually. It’s the result of too many high-fat or carb-laden foods, too little activity, and perhaps an accompanying physical condition like hypothyroidism. (Oprah Winfrey’s recent fitness foil, this disorder causes the metabolism to become sluggish, so it’s harder to burn calories and fat.)

But if you’re overweight, don’t be too quick to blame your thyroid. Be honest with yourself. Have you made it a habit to nosh in front of the TV, scarf down soda and cheese fries, sneak an extra donut at the office? Is it time (or past time) for you to get back in fighting trim?

If someone told you that you could lose weight almost effortlessly, without hunger pangs, Herculean workouts, “diet foods” and white-knuckle deprivation, you’d probably want to know more, right?

It’s fair to say most of us would be interested, if skeptical. Two of three people in our country are considered clinically overweight or obese; it’s these Americans who have made the diet and fitness industry a multibillion-dollar national obsession.

It’s time for a common-sense approach to diet and fitness. We’re not talking about another fad, diet book or diet club. You don’t have to drink diet shakes or eat “meal replacement bars;” you don’t have to starve yourself (that’s the last thing you should do!).

No, you won’t lose 30 pounds in 30 days, or three dress sizes in as many weeks. When it comes to fitness, slow and steady really does win the race. Why not get fit the same way you got fat—so gradually, you barely know it?

Let’s get going. If you reneged on your New Year’s resolutions, don’t beat yourself up (you’re one of millions, so at least you’ve got company). Re-commit. Get started now with these tips, and by summer, you could make lots of headway toward your fitness goals.

One of the best recent books on diet and nutrition is Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, by Brian Wansink, Ph.D.

Wansink is director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. His central thesis: You can lose weight the same way you gained it—so gradually and imperceptibly you’ll hardly notice. It sounds too good to be true. But Wansick’s promise—a return from mindless guilty eating that makes you fat to mindless enjoyable eating that helps you get slim—is simple, once you understand how it works.

One of the first things to understand about white-knuckle dieting—the kind we think is necessary to really drop weight—is what Wansick calls “the tyranny of the moment.” It’s that strange phenomenon when all diet pledges are swept out the window, instantaneously and seemingly without reason.

How many times have you pledged, with the utmost sincerity and conviction, to refrain from eating too many Mallomars or Almond Joys, burritos or burgers? Then, a few hours later, stressed, famished and feeling deprived just by the thought of dieting, you’re raiding the candy aisle or pulling into the fast food drive-through.

The feeling of defeat that follows such “cheating” is one of the worst things we dieters put ourselves through. But when you embark on a deprivation diet, you’re practically begging for a binge.

There’s help. As Wansick says, “The best diet is one you don’t know you’re on.”

Instead of making sweeping and absolute promises—“I will never have chicken-fried steak with gravy and mashed potatoes again, amen” or “No more bread for me, though I love bread more than anything in the world, amen”— find small but meaningful ways to moderate your diet. If you cut out just 300 calories a day, or expend 300 more calories through exercise, you’ll lose 27 pounds in a year. Do both, and you’ll lose more than 50 pounds, without even thinking about it! Here are Wansick’s top five tips for becoming a mindless (but healthy) eater:

• Take charge of your danger zones. Find the places and times that make you feel vulnerable to mindless eating: places like parties, your desk, your car; times like the hours between dinner and bedtime. Make it harder to be tempted by getting the goodies out of sight. Make it easier to get through the evening by scheduling a 9 p.m. snack.

• Instate food policies that address your vulnerabilities, and make the rules fairly easy to follow. For instance, tell yourself, “I can have a cookie at work if I drink a big glass of ice water first, and wait 15 minutes.” Or, “I can join the gang for a drink after work, as long as I walk there and back.” It’s great to feel you’re in control of your intake. It’s even better to enjoy snacks or a beer without guilt.

• Make small changes so you won’t feel deprived. Wansick calls it “the mindless margin”—the seemingly minor change that over time leads to weight loss. Did you know that just three jellybeans a day over the course of a year can add a pound? A single can of soda each day adds 12 pounds a year. Take them away, and you’ve lost the same amount.

• Drink ice water. Your body burns one calorie for every ounce of ice water you drink. By drinking the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of ice water a day, you’re burning 70 calories—and you’re almost one-third of the way toward your 300-calorie goal (which leads to that 27-pound weight loss).

• Don’t rush it! Your metabolism slows to preserve calories when you lose more than a half-pound per week. On the other hand, your metabolic thermostat stays at full burn when you lose weight slowly. Never buy into claims that a diet or supplement can take off 20 or 30 pounds in a month. That’s baloney. Besides, if you’ve never seen two pounds of fat, it is about the size of a loaf of bread. Imagine losing that off your hips or waistline every month.

Now that we’ve addressed your eating, it’s time to tune up your exercise plan.

The first step is self-assessment. In order to make meaningful changes, you have to know where you are right now. It’s helpful to document your weight and measurements at this point—pictures and videos are a good idea (nobody wants to do this, but they’ll keep you honest).

Set short-term goals (and keep your long-term goals on the back burner). When it comes to weight loss, many people obsess about the number on the scale. A watched pot never boils, and if you jump on that scale every day, you’re sure to be discouraged. Realize that weight fluctuations are normal—for women more than men, for older women more than 20-year-olds—so only record your weight once a week.

A good short-term weight loss goal is 10 percent. The American Heart Association says a 10 percent weight loss can result in lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels and also reduces the risk of Type II diabetes. When you make it, treat yourself to a shopping spree, a spa day, or a healthy dinner out.

There’s no getting around it, folks. Exercise is essential if you want to lose fat and build muscle. If you haven’t been active, you should probably start out with a walking program, 20 minutes four to five times a week.

If you’ve already been exercising, it’s time to step it up. To see continuing results and avoid plateaus, increase your intensity over time. Mixing up your workouts is also helpful to challenge your muscles and avoid boredom. Alternate exercise classes with swimming, elliptical training and cycling. Work up to 45 minutes to an hour of aerobic activity a day to maximize your benefits.

Weight training is also highly recommended because building muscle makes it easier to burn fat. And muscle mass will produce the hard body that looks great in a swimsuit.

Many people begin a fitness program with the idea that it will be hard. We’re conditioned to think in terms of deprivation—if it isn’t severe, it’s not good enough.

This spring, stop trying so hard. Make small changes that you can stick with. You won’t get slim overnight; you’ll be much closer by the time summer rolls around. Then celebrate by buying a new swimsuit.

Anatomy of a Binge

Slow-and-steady weight loss can be undone by binges, leading to the “cha-cha” effect—you take one step forward, and one back, endlessly, accomplishing nothing. Here’s how to manage your tendency to binge, and keep your eating plan on track.

Serotonin is the mood chemical produced when you eat carbohydrates. As serotonin levels deplete, your brain demands more. The most logical way to get more is to eat carbs. Then your cravings kick in.

But it takes about 20 minutes for serotonin levels to rise and sate the craving. Meantime, you can succumb to a binge that will wipe out all your efforts to reduce fat and get in shape.

There is a simple way to keep this cycle from happening: eat protein. Even small amounts of protein with every meal prolongs the effect of serotonin in your system and reduces cravings.

It also helps if you eat less, more often, to stay in balance. An added benefit to protein is that it raises your satiation level. It’s also vital to understand your binge triggers. Recovery programs like AA and Narcotics Anonymous warn addicts that they are more likely to fall off the wagon when they are hungry, angry, lonely or tired (HALT). Identify your triggers and recognize them as they occur.

Tips from a Personal Trainer

Nobody ever said getting in shape would be a walk in the park. But a walk in the park really helps. So do a few jumping jacks between TV commercials, or a stroll around the block during lunch. When it comes to getting fit, anything is better than nothing, and everything adds up to improved fitness.

“The number one excuse for not working out is not having time to go to the gym. The number one excuse for not going to the gym is not having the time to get there,” says Fitness Specialist Brian Lee of the AtlantiCare Life Center. “If you don’t have access to a facility, take a walk, ride your bike, hit the hiking trails. Do it 30 minutes, six days a week. And make those small changes, like using the stairs instead of the escalator.”

If you do have a gym membership, don’t let it gather dust. “All you need is a half hour to 45 minutes four times a week to do an efficient workout,” says Lee. “You need a few days of rest.”

When it comes to weight loss, Lee says half a pound to a pound a week is reasonable and doable. “If you set a big goal and don’t see those result’s you’ll be discouraged and your confidence will drop. Set smaller goals to reach your ultimate goal. And try to have fun!”

The Biggest Losers

When she looks in a mirror these days, Lauren Manuel barely recognizes the slender woman looking back. That’s because the 25-year-old casino marketer lost 25 pounds in last year’s Lose Big Challenge, held each spring for employees of Caesars, Bally’s, Showboat and Harrah’s. This year, Manuel—who has gone from size 13 to a trim, toned size 9—hopes to shed another 15 pounds.

“I actually didn’t work out at all until I joined (the challenge) last year,” Manuel says. “Starting in January, I was full-on, for the first time ever.”

Her routine was demanding—an hour of step aerobics once a week, alternating with circuit training and a class called Below the Belt, designed to firm the lower body. Her commitment to physical activity made it possible for her to lose weight without a drastic change in her diet.

“I still pretty much ate what I wanted, but smaller portions,” says Manuel. “If I wanted French fries, I picked from someone else’s plate. If I wanted cake, I’d take a taste to curb my cravings.”

Her colleagues helped her stay on track. One co-worker, 37-year-old Beverly Godoy, lost 12 pounds, started running, and eventually completed a 5K race. Now she’s training for a half-marathon.

“I’m down two clothing sizes,” says Godoy. “I had to get a new wardrobe!”

This year, 266 employees signed up for the Lose Big Challenge. By early February, they had lost a total of 500 pounds, says Jim Bohs, fitness director at the Showboat Employee Fitness Center.

“Everyone’s needs are a little different; that’s where the ‘personal’ in personal training comes into play. We sit down with them, develop a routine, give them nutritional guidelines and help keep them motivated.”

Cash prizes—with the biggest loser winning $200—add extra incentive.

Bowen Sussman, a floor person at Harrah’s, is another success story. He lost about 15 pounds, went from a size 46-48 to a lean 42, and feels great. His diet today is low in sugar and high in protein. A typical breakfast is a salmon omelet with spinach and cheese.

“It’s not low in fat, but it’s high in protein,” says Sussman, 46. “The fat makes me feel full, and the protein gives me energy.”

The health benefits are impressive: lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol without the use of drugs. Sussman has kicked the caffeine habit—no more soda or coffee at break time—and expects to get down to a size 40 before this year’s challenge is through.

“I did it because I had just started at Harrah’s, and I thought it was time to make a new start,” he says. “It’s a very unpretentious club, it doesn’t cost anything, and I just get healthier.”

Sussman was inspired in his fitness quest by fellow club members including Jean Louis, or JB, a poker dealer at Harrah’s. Louis’ ambitious goal: six-pack abs. He got there—and then some.

“I lost 40 pounds, eight inches from my waist,” he says. “My body has become more flexible, my self-esteem increases and I feel stronger.” Louis’ body fat percentage plummeted from 22.3 percent to an astounding 7.5 percent.

“I feel great when people ask me if I’m a football player or a boxer,” he says.

Ahead of the Curve

Any given morning at Tilton Fitness in Northfield, the parking lot’s jammed, the music inside is jamming, and patrons from teens to 20s to 70-plus are hard at work at the business of fitness.

Tilton’s new location in downtown Galloway brings the same level of exercise technology and personal training to one of South Jersey’s fastest-growing communities. A unique partnership with Shore Memorial Hospital adds in-house physical therapy and rehabilitative programs.

The Galloway location features an aquatics center with heated competition-grade swimming pool, coed sauna, steam room and “the largest Jacuzzi you’ve ever seen in your life,” says Tilton Vice President Patrick Sheehan.

There’s a childcare center, juice bar and café, even a medical day spa with cosmetic procedures like Botox, dermabrasion and laser hair removal—all in a state-of-the-art 47,500-square-foot facility minutes from Atlantic City.

Its hospital affiliation and unique amenities have earned Tilton Fitness many accolades. The Medical Fitness Association calls the Mays Landing and Manahawkin facilities the finest full-service fitness clubs in the country. The clubs’ morning exercise classes are recognized as the best around.

The new location “rivals the most advanced and critically acclaimed facilities found in major metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, New York and Boston,” says CEO Sam Young.

Inside, it’s “a mix of rough and refined, contemporary and urban,” says Sheehan. The main floor is dominated by a floating master stairway of gleaming diamond-plate steel; a cardio mezzanine overlooks the main floor. Elliptical trainers and treadmills are iPod-compatible, and there’s even a bank of stationary bikes with virtual video racecourses.

The facility’s vast high-tech interior is impressive, but Young stresses the health benefits for members, many of them casino employees.

“The casinos look to us as one component of their comprehensive healthcare strategy. By promoting health and wellness, they reduce healthcare costs and create better employees,” Young says.

Each new member gets two sessions with a personal trainer to orient them to the club, help them establish goals and develop a program that’s personalized and individual,” says marketing VP Julianne Dods.

Tilton also offers classes in diabetes management, smoking cessation, pre- and post-natal healthcare—70 programs in all, many free and open to the public.

Among the exercise options: Pilates, spinning, kickboxing, high cardio and low-impact rebound, and aquatic fitness programs (especially popular among older adults and those recovering from injuries). A popular all-around fitness class is Body Pump, exercise fusion with equal parts cardio and strength training.

Best of all for some members is the “no-lunkhead” rule. You won’t see Mr. Universe, the Incredible Hulk or their ilk pumping iron here.

“Twenty years ago, it was all about ripped muscle shirts and ripped bodies,” says Sheehan. We work very hard to keep intimidation out of the club.”

Another great benefit is the Oxygen Café. Executive chef Kris Durham offers a deliciously healthy menu that is so popular, “People who aren’t even club members stop in for lunch,” says Dods.

In the morning, try an Oxygen Omelet with grilled asparagus, roasted tomatoes and red onions or a whole-wheat Florentine wrap with baby spinach and feta cheese. Lunch selections include a roasted vegetable panini, pesto chicken bruschetta and the honey-lime chicken sandwich with tequila avocado remoulade.

Fresh-made shakes include the Strawberry Classic, Hawaiian Harvest and low-carb Peanut Butter Peel. Daily specials are listed with the amount of carbs, proteins, etc. Catering is also available.

Young says membership at the Galloway location is already ahead of projections, with people from 80 local companies and school districts, two police departments, and of course, the casinos. Casino workers get 40 percent off gold membership, which entitles them to use any Tilton Fitness facility. Payroll deduction is also available. Importantly for casino workers, Tilton Fitness is open 24 hours a day.

“Galloway is clearly a terrific market, and the only township poised to absorb the expected wave of new casino employees. But it’s been underserved in terms of health and fitness. By coming here and partnering with the casinos, we play an important role in employee wellness. I think that works for everyone.”

By Joseph Harrison   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Man, do people love beer. Jon Henderson knows it, but he had no idea how much.

Beer is as much part of American culture as Grandma’s apple pie. If you have any doubts, all you have to do is step one foot into the Atlantic City Convention Center on March 8 and 9.

The Convention Center, site of this year’s Atlantic City Beer Festival, will be wall-to-wall beer—and beer lovers. Last year’s festival drew more than 9,000 people, and Henderson, organizer of the event with his partners, Unsuited Entertainment, believes this year will be even bigger.

“Saturday night is always mayhem,” Henderson said. “We think we can get about 12,000 this year.”

He’s not just throwing out a number. Last year, only 350 advance tickets had sold a month before the show. This year, beer aficionados snapped up more than 2,000 advance tickets.

Focusing on craft beer—not the mass-produced, commercially driven beers—“The Celebration of the Suds” will feature more than 75 beer companies and nearly 300 types of beer—about 120 more than last year.

Some of the companies are Carlsberg, Asahi, Slyfox, Troegs, Victory, Ommegang, Flying Fish and Blackdog. Nearly every type of beer will be offered, including ciders from Magner, Original Sin and Blackthorn.

“We have a very important relationship with the beer companies, because we don’t look at this festival as just one weekend a year,” Henderson says. “We create a program so you know what is being poured for you. You are given information about the beers and you can rate the beers. And we also tell you where you can get the beers.

“Joe Canal’s, for example, is making a point to carry 90 percent of the beers poured at the festival. So everyone makes out. The beer lover gets to experience more options and find out where to get them. And the beer makers are finding new customers.”

In addition to entertainment from bands like Celtic rockers Birnam Wood, there will be a Guitar Hero III platform where players can rock out.

“I think one thing that separates us from many other beer festivals is our willingness to add culture. We want to make this more of an entertainment experience than just about beer consumption. Sure, the whole purpose is to learn and enjoy craft beer, but there’s other things you can do, too.”

There will also be more food.

“We had a big demand for more food variety,” Henderson says. “Aramark will still be there, doing a great job, but there will also be some more options, like sausage and peppers. The Convention Center has really done a great job working with us. This is an event we want to make annual for 60, 70 years or whatever. Working with them makes life so much easier.”

Don’t forget to chat up the brewmasters, he says. “They love to talk about their beers and educate people. It’s a place where beer snobs will certainly have fun, but it’s a place for regular beer lovers to expand their horizons.”

While beers like Ommegang and Smuttynose may make the less-enlightened drinker scratch his head, there are some familiar brands like Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Red Stripe, Guinness, Harp, Sierra Nevada and Long Trail.

“Even with some of the more mainstream beers, we try to do something special,” Henderson says. “For example, we are one of the few festivals that offers Sam Adams Utopias. We had it three years in a row now. That’s a great opportunity.”

Old favorites like Magic Hat, Abita, Rogue, Allagash and Ipswich will also return, and Henderson is really thrilled that Left Hand and Founders—two very popular beers in the craft beer community—will make their New Jersey debut at the festival.

“I love Belgian whites,” Henderson says. “But I am all over the map. I can talk all day about what I love. If you come to my house, my refrigerator always has 10 different kinds of beer. Lancaster Brewing Company has such a great variety of beers. The Brooklyn Brewery is phenomenal. I can say something good about every one.”

The festival received sponsorship from Harrah’s, where Henderson works.

“They not only supported us financially, but they offered an unbelievable room rate ($129 to $159) that sold out,” he says. “We sold something like 400 rooms. They stepped up for a lot of people who now won’t have to drive outside of the city.”

Harrah’s is also jumping on the beer bandwagon, offering a beer dinner on Friday, March 7, with Dogfish Head creator and founder Sam Calagione. It will be open to the public at Harrah’s The Steak House.

One thing Henderson and his partners are very conscious of is the fact that some people come to get hammered.

“Attracting Joe Schmo, who wants to come in and get drunk, is inevitable,” Henderson says. “You just hope the cat comes with a designated driver or took a bus or train.”

Unsuited is so serious about not attracting “Joe Schmo,” it raised ticket prices to $35 in advance, $45 at the door.

“We wanted to weed the people out who look at it as an all-you-can-drink, let’s-get-drunk kind of night,” Henderson says. “It’s about the tasting experience, not about getting drunk.”

As in the past, a $5 designated driver ticket is available. Those ticket holders are given a different bracelet and cannot drink alcoholic beverages (soft drinks from Pepsi will be available). The ticket also includes free parking at the Convention Center.

Beer makers are very aware to not pour more than 2 ounces in the 6-ounce sample glass given festival-goers.

“Overpouring is such a common mistake at most beer festivals,” Henderson says. “Before you know it, everyone is walking around drunk and not experiencing what the festival is all about.”

Henderson and his partners are finding the beer business to be quite lucrative. In its third year, the Celebration of the Suds is so big, Unsuited Entertainment is taking this puppy on the road, expanding to three more cities this year with aspirations to offer one a month across the nation. Unsuited already has an October festival in Cleveland and is close to securing others in Hollywood, Florida, and Phoenix in November and December, respectively.

“When we started this, I saw something special in the first year… we knew it would get bigger,” Henderson says. “Atlantic City is such a growing market and there are opportunities for events like this to thrive. The beer festival is the only event that grew last year at the Convention Center. Everything else dipped, including the Tattoo Show we do. So it shows you that we have something here.”

Unsuited is partnering with Draft magazine, a top beer publication, for the festivals.

“Together we can really develop these festivals and build craft beer throughout the United States,” Henderson says. “We are going to go to markets that do not have existing beer festivals. We don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”

Henderson says the future of craft beer still has a way to go.

“We are finding many craft beer drinkers to be even more passionate than wine drinkers. The craft market has not peaked yet. There is a lot of growth happening, and we hope to be part of that.”

The ABCs of Beer

Between Bel gian whites, pale ales, hard ciders and Scottish ales, you might be a little confused. Here’s some help.

Between Bel gian whites, pale ales, hard ciders and Scottish ales, you might be a little confused. Here’s some help.

Between Bel gian whites, pale ales, hard ciders and Scottish ales, you might be a little confused. Here’s some help.

Ale. English beer with a strong and slightly bitter taste.

American Pilsner. Maize increases perceived sweetness.

Barley Wine. A strong ale with alcohol content of 9 percent to 13 percent.

Belgian Ale. Golden to deep amber. Sometimes slightly acidic.

Belgian White. Medium or full-bodied with a high alcoholic character.

Brown Ale. Lower in alcohol than porter, medium to full-body flavor.

Ciders. Produced by the fermentation of apple juices.

English Style Pale Ale. Not pale but gold or copper-colored and dry.

India Pale Ale. Intense hop flavor with medium maltiness and body.

Lager. High carbonation and light color, though some are dark.

Porter and Stout. Dark beers made with roasted malts or barley.

Scottish Ale. Very malty, full-bodied, lightly hopped brews.

Wheat Beer. Characterized by a banana or vanilla aftertaste.

By   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Working since 1998 with the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Procida has brought 14 residential developments to Atlantic City. The partnership has evolved over time, but for the most recent projects, Carolina Homes and EastWind, CRDA acquired and contributed the land and provided oversight, while Procida designed, built and sells the homes.

The newest development, EastWind, includes 132 new, reasonably priced twin and town homes targeted to casino workers, empty nesters and second homeowners. Casino Connection talked to Senior Vice President Christine Procida and Senior Project Manager Richard Jinks about the growth of residential development in Atlantic City.

Casino Connection: What attracted Procida Homes to Atlantic City?

Christine Procida: For about 25 years, we’ve been doing affordable homes in areas such as the Bronx and Newark. We worked with the New York City Housing Partnership and built 2,000 units that transformed a lot of South Bronx neighborhoods. In Atlantic City, we’ve built 250 homes, and we see a lot of the same promise here.

And some of the same problems?

I don’t see them as problems. I came here 12 years ago, and all I saw was promise and opportunity.

How do you target places in need of redevelopment?

New York City was looking for redevelopment, so we were welcomed there. What we don’t do is go into rural communities, start subdividing and taking down trees and meeting with a lot of opposition. That’s not fun, that’s not rewarding. But when you see a city like New York, which has the New York City Housing Partnership, and this particular area, which has CRDA, with public agencies that are going to work together with profit developers—that combination works. If the partnership doesn’t exist, we can’t play in that game.

Atlantic City is in the midst of a renaissance, but problems still exist—we don’t even have a major supermarket. What do you tell people about the advantages of living in an emerging community?

I’m going to use the Bronx as an example. We put up the first 300 homes and then said, “There’s no neighborhood shopping here.” So we started building little strip centers and we put the bodegas in, and a couple of other smaller 5,000-square-foot stores. Fast forward, now you’ve got Pathmark coming in with 25,000-square-foot stores. If those supermarkets don’t see the housing, they will typically not come.

What do you say about buying a home in the current financial climate?

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, there is no better time, at least with the product that we’re offering. Number one, we negotiate our lenders up-front and we protect our buyers by making sure they aren’t overextended. We even qualify people at interest rates beyond what they are right now, so there’s no problem a year from now.

How can renters tell if they’re financially equipped to buy?

I keep it very simple. If a couple is making a total income of $50,000, $25,000 each, I want them to be able to buy my home. That’s where we have the smaller footprints. Does that mean someone who’s making $45,000 can’t get in the door? Well, we’ve got a couple of new products on a 40-year term. Depending on how their credit is, we can get lower interest rates. A lady just walked off the street who recently moved here, and she and her brother are looking for a place. I said, “Don’t rent. Do you make 25 grand? Does your brother? Let me get you a house. Let’s see what you’ve got.” The only way you know you qualify is if you pick up that phone. If a person makes $60,000 but has $10,000 in debt, they may have a really high interest rate.

Richard Jinks: A woman that rented in the neighborhood here (near EastWind) dragged her husband in because she wanted to see what we were selling. No intention of buying. They both work at Trump. They both work in the maintenance-custodial section and they never thought that they could buy a home. They just wanted to see. Our salesperson said, “Well, sit down. How much do you make?” They went through the numbers and now they own a home. They never, ever thought they could purchase a home. They thought they were locked into renting for the rest of their life.

And if you have bad credit?

Procida: You may have to do a little more work. You may have to come back next year.

What’s the best thing about living in Atlantic City?

This is the best-kept secret around, as far as I’m concerned. I could leave here and walk three blocks to the beach. I can go to Gardner’s Basin. I can go to some of the best restaurants, enjoy the best shopping. It’s city life.

By   Fri, Sep 19, 2008

By Frank Legato   Thu, Jun 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 19, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, May 12, 2008

By Roger Gros   Mon, Mar 10, 2008

By David Schwartz   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Back in the 1880s, few could have foreseen a boom in high-rise construction on Absecon Island. But when an enterprising developer built a giant wooden elephant there, he put South Atlantic City—now Margate—on the map. He also created an American icon.

At that time, Atlantic City was slowly growing. South Atlantic City, cut off from the bustle by a tidal creek, was little more than a collection of fishing shacks.

Along came James Vincent de Paul Lafferty, Jr., who owned several lots in town. Figuring to make his fortune in land speculation, he enlisted Philadelphia architect William Free in what seemed a quixotic scheme—to design and build a 65-foot wooden elephant in the midst of his holdings.

Lafferty hoped the elephant would help publicize South Atlantic City. While we can doubt his sales acumen (Lafferty sold the elephant and his lands six years later with no significant profit), he had an incredible eye for promotion. In the late 19th century, with no Animal Planet or Discovery Channel, elephants were exotic animals indeed.

In 1881, the elephant quickly rose above the sands of South Atlantic City. Lafferty installed his offices inside, and showed his land to prospective buyers from the howdah, or riding carriage. It was a local curiosity at first, but word got out slowly, and Lafferty designed two more giant elephants, Cape May’s Light of Asia (which was disassembled in 1900) and Coney Island’s Elephantine Colossus, which burned to the ground in 1896.

In 1887, when Lafferty unloaded his land, Anthony Gerzen walked away with the real estate and the elephant. After Gerzen’s death in 1902, his son John acquired the property; it would remain in the family for more than 80 years.

The elephant had previously been open to tourists: visitors paid 10 cents and were allowed to wander throughout the furnished interior and climb the stairs to the howdah. But it closed in 1902, when an English doctor rented it as a residence, living in the belly of the beast with his family for the summer.

The following year, a storm heavily damaged the structure. After it was repaired, it operated as a tavern. The elephant remained a bar, off and on, until 1920, when national Prohibition put it—and bars throughout the nation—out of business.

John Gerzen’s wife Sophia was reportedly responsible for the name “Lucy.” Lucy is apparently a gender-bending pachyderm; though usually identified as a “she,” only male Asian elephants have tusks.

After Gerzen passed away in 1916, Sophia continued to operate Lucy as a tourist attraction, adding an Elephant Hotel across the street. Though the 1944 hurricane devastated the surrounding area (the Margate Boardwalk was never rebuilt), the elephant survived, a bit worse for wear.

Sophia continued to care for the pachyderm, but like Atlantic City, it declined over the years. Sophia died in 1963, and by the late 1960s, Lucy was becoming a hazard. At one point, the new owners of the prop-erty planned to demolish the dilapidated structure.

The public intervened. Unwilling to see the beloved landmark disappear, in 1969 a group of concerned citizens formed the Margate Civic Association and began planning to “Save the Elephant.” The city agreed to move Lucy to a piece of land two blocks south of its original location, and on July 20, 1970, the 90-year-old structure was towed to its new home between Decatur and Washington avenues on the Margate beachfront.

Local businesses—from the Atlantic City Race Course to Skinny D’Amato’s 500 Club—generously helped the cause, and by 1974, Lucy was open once more for tours. By 1976, when the landmark was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the elephant’s skin had been repaired and repainted.

Today, the Save Lucy Committee continues to nurture Margate’s famous elephant, and Lucy remains a must-see sight for all visitors to the Jersey shore.

By Dave Bontempo   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Atlantic City is a study in contradictions, with historic landmarks and multibillion-dollar casinos alongside poverty and street crime.

One person understands both realities. Herb Fisher, a day-one Borgata security officer, is not just a tireless public servant. He’s also an active link between the gaming industry and the people of Atlantic City.

Over the course of his career, Fisher has worn many hats: former Casino Control Commission inspector, one-time games dealer, gaming school instructor. He has also worked as a certified drug counselor, trustee for the Christ Worship Center Worldwide and officer of the Life Center of Atlantic City, a group that finds low-income housing for city residents. He has led efforts to land casino jobs for Atlantic City natives.

The winner last year of a prestigious Atlantic City Host Award, Fisher is a consummate humanitarian.

“What makes me feel good is knowing I did something good for someone else,” he says. “They come back years later and tell you they would not be where they are in life if not for the patience I had given them. I’m not an emotional person, but that’s a powerful statement for someone to make. I get tears thinking about it.”

Fisher’s contribution can be measured by what he gives and what he’s prevented. At key moments, Fisher has referred many young men and women to city service—before they could fall into the drug culture.

“These same situations existed when I was a kid,” says Fisher, who turns 65 in April. “You still have drug problems; you still have the youth not valuing life, not understanding it. People are having children too young, bearing adult responsibilities too early. There is all the glitter around the city, but we must take an interest in the people who live here.

“You do that by dealing with your youth, trying to get them to appreciate themselves, to see their purpose in life.”

Fisher is a great advocate for the community. Passionate yet modest, he is able to nudge people in the right direction. As a casino veteran, he can speak of the positive opportunities there, in contrast to those on the streets. He offers kids powerful enticements to make good decisions, and shows by example—with his own life. Fisher rebounded from a negative start in life, marked by pre-casino hopelessness and a broken home.

Fortunately for him, there was an intervention. He was raised in a spiritual environment, later served in Vietnam and won two Purple Hearts. His 25th Infantry Division was later acknowledged in the movie Full Metal Jacket.

Fisher appreciates the guidance he received, and passes it on. The rewards come in the form of two priceless words: “Thank you.”

“I’m an idealistic person,” Fishers says. “I believe in the way things could be, not the way they are.” Fisher is no politician, but he’s mastered the art of serving his constituents—the casino patrons and natives of Atlantic City.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

By Joe Legato   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Here’s a game that isn’t for the faint of heart or stomach. Gore and demon-slashing soar to new levels as Capcom brings gamers Devil May Cry 4.

Fans may recognize a familiar plot involving the religious Order of the Sword and its quest to cleanse a world swarming with demons.

This time around, though, players begin as characters other than Dante, the famed descendent of the Order’s founder. The protagonist of Devil May Cry 4 is Nero, a religious knight who has also vowed to destroy the demons of the world. Members of the Order of the Sword are apparently becoming possessed by demon souls; Nero must unravel the mystery as he protects the sister of the Order’s leader and tries to understand Dante’s role in all of it.

Devil May Cry 4 utilizes graphic battles and vivid action scenes to give an excellent presentation. You’ll have a great time just watching yourself cutting, shooting and pounding all of the devil’s minions. The boss battles may be the coolest things to view, such as seeing a horrific demon out of hell in a beautiful castle background.

This is not to say the game isn’t also a ton of fun to play. You have an arsenal of weapons and moves to employ, and Dante’s signature weapon is, ironically, his demonic right arm, called the Devil Bringer. The game lets you use the arm to perform some devastating combos and battle multiple enemies at one time.

Devil May Cry 4 brings enough new features to be a fresh addition to the series while maintaining signature characteristics of its predecessors. Fans of the franchise will be pleased to find that they do get to actually play as Dante for a bit in the game, and the story lines for the characters are well integrated. Whether or not you are a fan, though, the game is worth playing, even if just for the intense movie-scenes.

Just don’t get filled with too much awe as you’re watching; you never know when that awesome monster you see before you is the next bad guy you have to fight.

By Chris Borino   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Levon Helm's name might not be familiar to everyone, but it should be. He drummed and sang for The Band, accompanying them as they backed up rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins in 1959 and Bob Dylan in the mid-1960s.

The Band went on to become legendary in its own right; its historic 1976 Thanksgiving Day concert in San Francisco—including Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell and Muddy Waters—was immortalized in the Martin Scorsese film The Last Waltz.

Helm is the son of a cotton farmer. Dirt Farmer, his latest work—which recieved a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album—is something of a homage to those origins—a narrative of rural life in the South, mixing bluegrass and folk, with the songs of Robbie Robertson and the Stanley Brothers along with other Dixie standards. This collection of songs, none of which are original works, gets new life under Helm's guidance, and reminds the listener what Johnny Cash was able to accomplish with his American series.

Helm’s voice has undergone something of an odyssey. For most of his career his sound was clear, powerful and distinct. A battle with throat cancer has left it much lower and raspier, but no less moving. Most of us will never really understand what it means to live in the poor rural South, but the best description I've ever heard is in Helm’s “Poor Old Dirt Farmer,” a Cajun waltz written by Tracy Schwarz.

Another standout track is “The Mountain,” in which Helm weeps, “I was young on this mountain/Now I'm old/I knew every holler/Every cool swimming hole/‘Til one night I lay down and woke to find/That my childhood was over and I went down in the mine.”

Levon Helm is an American hero, and Dirt Farmer is a testament to his enduring journey. To put it another way, this record sounds like Tommy Lee Jones’ leathery face looks in No Country for Old Men.

By Roger Gros   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

A first novel is often a wonderful thing. In many cases, the author has spent years writing, editing and refining the book, so every word, every nuance and plotpoint is fully thought out. And sometimes it’s the best book the author writes.

I hope that isn’t the case with Lottery, because Patricia Wood has produced a work of art that is fully formed, yet only hints of her forthcoming brilliance.

Perry Crandall is a young man with a 76 IQ, which is borderline retarded. But you soon come to realize that, though Perry may be “slow,” he’s wise beyond his years and his mental capacities.

When Perry’s grandmother dies, he’s left at the mercy of his greedy mother, brothers and their equally disturbing wives. They quickly dupe him out of his inheritance, Gran’s house, and dump him on the only friends he has left in the world—Gary, his employer, and Keith, his co-worker.

Then Perry wins $12 million in the Washington State Lottery. The family returns from the cracks in the wall, scheming for ways to separate him from his winnings.

But a funny thing happens along the way. Perry learns he is a great businessman. He turns Gary’s marine supply store into the hottest business in town. He uses his money to help his friends, never acting as a needy giver, and never requiring that they ask for help.

Growing in wisdom, Perry falls for Cherry, the pretty clerk at the convenience store. But she finds Keith more appealing, and Perry is hurt.

A surprise ending that resolves his relationships with Cherry, Keith and his family makes Lottery one of the most heartwarming and inspirational books in recent memory, with truly unforgettable insights and characters. And because it is a first novel, one hopes Wood has only scratched the surface.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Gone, Baby Gone is the directorial debut of Ben Affleck. Set in Boston, the movie stars Affleck’s younger brother, Casey, in the lead role of Patrick Kenzie, a private investigator hired by the family of an abducted girl. Amanda has been missing several days when the movie begins. Kenzie and his girlfriend/partner Angie (played by an ineffectual Michelle Monaghan) follow neighborhood leads until they learn the reality of the kidnapping is far more sophisticated than anyone could have imagined. The police (Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris) seem to muddy the trail. It turns out they aren’t the only ones who know more than they let on.

The film is up for a slew of Academy Awards, and has a terrific cast, most notably Affleck’s Kenzie and Amanda’s mother, played by Amy Ryan.

Beware: The plot is complex and at times confusing. We aren’t taken on the chase so much as we’re pulled along; at times, it feels like we’re hostage to fragmented, cursory narrative.

Director Affleck takes no pains to brighten up the Boston accents of his actors—I had a tough time making out several portions of dialogue—but in a nutshell, that’s what makes this film noir work. Especially Affleck’s Kenzie—his mutterings and head-scratching regional dialect add authenticity to a film that, though confusing and far-fetched at times, is made real because of the lead actor’s genuineness in the role.

Casey Affleck’s performance is nothing short of astonishing. Gritty and lean, he never strays into the lantern-jawed movie-hero mode of his brother. Affleck’s portrayal of this tarnished, but sincere Boston private eye is not to be missed. While he stood in the shadow of his big brother Ben all these years, Casey’s pathos turned his raw talent into solid gold.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

March 1

Babyface, Borgata

B.B. King, House of Blues

Martina McBride, Caesars

Trisha Yearwood, Hilton

Patrizio Buanne, Taj Mahal

March 4-7

Ricci Martin, Hilton

March 7

Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat XVIII, Tropicana

Ginuwine, House of Blues

March 8

Mike Birbiglia, Trump Plaza

Paul Potts, Borgata

Juanes, Taj Mahal

Night Ranger and Jani Lane of Warrant, House of Blues

March 9-10; March 12-14

Gary Puckett, Resorts

March 14

Live, Borgata

March 14-15

Lewis Black, Borgata

Jackie Mason, Tropicana

Great Big Sea, House of Blues

March 15

Antonis Remos and Sakis Rouvis, Taj Mahal

Robin Trower, House of Blues

America, Resorts

March 16-17; March 19-21

Sheena Easton, Resorts

March 21

Jonas Brothers, Taj Mahal

March 21-22

Michael Buble, Borgata

March 22

Wanda Sykes, Borgata

Freeway with Peedi Peedi, House of Blues

March 28

Avril Lavigne, Borgata

Van Halen, Boardwalk Hall

The Killers of Comedy with King Norris, House of Blues

Jackson Browne, Borgata

March 28-29

Phil Vassar, Taj Mahal

March 29

The Spinners, Trump Plaza

Tanya Tucker, Tropicana

Greg Giraldo, Christian Finnegan, Trump Marina

New Breed Fighters, House of Blues

Montgomery Gentry, Harrah’s

Rick Springfield, Borgata

March 30; April 1-4

The Shirelles, Hilton

April 3

Ace Frehley, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, House of Blues

April 4

Def Leppard, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Borgata

Bo Bice, House of Blues

Vanessa Williams, Harrah’s

April 4-6

Temptations with J.J. Walker, Tropicana

April 5

George Carlin, Borgata

Neil Sedaka, Resorts

Get the Led Out, House of Blues

Renzo Arbore, Taj Mahal

April 6-7; April 9-11

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Resorts

April 11-12

Howie Mandel, Harrah’s

Santana, Borgata

April 12

Boxing: Miguel Cotto vs. Alfonso Gomez, Boardwalk Hall

Joy Behar, Borgata

Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, House of Blues

Air Supply, Trump Marina

Kevin Nealon, Trump Plaza

Pretty Things and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, House of Blues

Sinbad, Hilton

Apil 16

The Searchers, The Manfreds, House of Blues

April 18

R&R with Rick Braun, Richard Elliott, House of Blues

April 19

Etta James and the Roots Band, House of Blues

No Code, Monkey Wrench, House of Blues

Jackie Martling, Trump Marina

April 25-26

Frank Caliendo, Borgata

Dion DiMucci, Trump Plaza

April 26

Lavelle Crawford, House of Blues

April 27-30

Debbie Reynolds, Hilton

By Joseph Harrison   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Over the last five years, it’s been hard to rival Wanda Sykes’ catapult to fame. The versatile comic, who comes to Borgata’s Music Box for two shows March 22, is everywhere you look—in sitcoms, her own cable specials, movies, magazines or on stage.

With her biting sarcasm, Sykes has been called “one of the funniest stand-up comics” by her peers, and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America.

When she comes to Borgata, expect some material from Sykes’ successful HBO comedy special, Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired, which received a 2007 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. Whether she’s talking about politics, gay marriage, karma, health care, racial profiling, the pressure of being a woman or the perks of getting older, the comedian is always on target with her finely crafted routine.

But Sykes is more than just a stand-up phenomenon. She was recently seen in the feature films Evan Almighty, Monster-In-Law and My Super Ex-Girlfriend. She also lent her voice to the animated features Over The Hedge and Barnyard. She pads her busy schedule as a regular on the CBS comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, produced the Comedy Central Show Wanda Does It, wrote a book of funny essays titled Yeah, I Said It, and even had her own Fox series, Wanda at Large.

Perhaps her best role is on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she’s always at the right place at the right time to foil series star and creator Larry David. The Virginia native and Emmy Award winner will certainly offer a night of side-splitting laughs.

By Joseph Harrison   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Avril Lavigne is no longer that cute little girl from Canada who writes catchy songs. She’s a superstar. Atlantic City will have a great opportunity to catch the energetic songstress when she performs in Borgata’s Event Center March 28.

The 23-year-old is a woman who knows what she wants. So when it came to writing her third album, The Best Damn Thing, she had one goal in mind: make it fun. While touring in support of 2004’s Under My Skin (it sold more than 8 million copies worldwide), she got into more uptempo songs, and resolved to make a record that captured the high-spirited, full-throttle energy she unleashes on stage.

The Best Damn Thing is full of gutsy guitar riffs, sing-along party choruses and a pop-punk, rock ’n’ roll rebellious spirit. Songs range from the sassy “I Can Do Better” to the album’s first single, “Girlfriend,” which combines a hip-hop beat with power chords, handclaps and a chanted girl-group-style chorus with a punk rock twist. She can also show her emotional side on ballads like “Keep Holding On,” which she wrote for the fantasy film Eragon.

The current tour features a new band plus two dancers, and Lavigne will perform choreographed dancing for the first time in her career. Although Lavigne is young, her career is already impressive. Her 2002 debut album Let Go snagged eight Grammy nominations and four Juno Awards, including Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year, thanks to songs like “Complicated,” “Sk8ter Boi” and “I’m With You,” selling more than 16 million copies worldwide. Her follow-up, Under My Skin, debuted at Number 1 on the U.S., Canadian and U.K. charts, and her singles “Don’t Tell Me” and “My Happy Ending” were smashes as she collected three more Juno Awards.

After marrying Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley, she showed her acting chops in Richard Linklater’s Fast Food Nation and lent her voice to the animated film Over the Hedge.

By Joseph Harrison   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

When it comes to 1980s pop divas, they don’t get much bigger than Sheena Easton, who returns to Atlantic City with nearly a week’s worth of performances at Resorts Atlantic City from March 16 to 21.

The 48-year-old Scottish native doesn’t have any new material to show off, so fans should expect a performance full of her international hits. The former Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama student, who was hooked on the performing arts after seeing Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were, got her first big break on the BBC Television series The Big Time: Pop Singer, which helped her secure a record deal.

Before she knew it, her singles “Modern Girl” and “9 to 5” were Top 10 smashes in the U.K., making her the first female to score two simultaneous Top 10 hits.

Her success crossed over to the United States, where she won a Grammy for Best New Artist. She penned the title songs from the James Bond flick For Your Eyes Only, teamed with Kenny Rogers on the chart-topping “We’ve Got Tonight,” and had a bunch of other big hits, most notably “Sugar Walls,” produced by Prince. She also contributed vocals on the Purple One’s hit “U Got the Look.”

Easton also got the acting bug, appearing as Don Johnson’s wife on Miami Vice, and in stage revivals of Grease and Man of La Mancha. She even hosted a morning Vegas talk show, lent her voice to the animated film All Dogs Go To Heaven 2, and started a line of collector’s angel figurines. Although Easton hasn’t had a hit since 1991, she remains a constant touring presence and puts on a show worth seeing.

By Joseph Harrison   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

It looked more unlikely than an Eagles reunion.

But since hell did freeze over when the Eagles got back together, it should be no surprise that David Lee Roth is back fronting Van Halen, and will perform with the band at Boardwalk Hall March 28.

With Eddie Van Halen on guitar, Alex Van Halen on drums and Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, on bass, the reviews for Van Halen’s reunion have been extremely positive.

Eddie looks like he has his life back in order. Alex never misses a beat. Roth can still hit the high notes. And Wolfgang, though no Michael Anthony, can hold his own. The good news for longtime fans is that the band is playing all the huge hits that made them Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. While you won’t hear any songs from the Sammy Hagar era, who cares? The best VH stuff was with Roth. Buckle in for a night of ’70s and ’80s classic metal.

By Joseph Harrison   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

When the Jonas Brothers came to Atlantic City earlier this year, they were an opening act for the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus tour at Boardwalk Hall.

When they perform at Trump Taj Mahal on March 21, they’ll be headlining a sold-out show of their own. What a difference a few months can make.

If 2007 was the year of Miley, 2008 could be the year of the Jonas Brothers. The teenagers seem to have all of the pieces in place for a breakthrough similar to their Disney Channel cohort.

“We’re very excited about this tour,” says Kevin Jonas. “It’s the first time we actually have some type of production on the tour, instead of just three risers and our instruments.

“A year ago, we were traveling in a van —no buses, no trucks, we were starting from the ground up. A year later, we have a sold-out tour. It’s really exciting, and we’re just very blessed.”

With Cyrus, the brothers played sold-out arenas, and parents shelled out thousands of dollars to please their children. If the overnight campout for tickets at the Taj tells you anything, it’s that Jonas tickets will again command top dollar.

If you don’t know the Jonas Brothers, you don’t have any children. Their self-titled second CD has sold more than a million copies; a third is coming out in July, the same time when Camp Rock, a Jonas Brothers Disney Channel movie, will premiere.

In the fall, Nick, Kevin and Joe will star in their own Disney Channel series, J.O.N.A.S, a comedy spy series.

The New Jersey natives are on a roll that seems unstoppable. But it hasn’t always been that easy. Their debut CD, It’s About Time, went from a solo project from Nick (who has performed in Broadway musicals) to a group effort when Columbia Records recognized the trio’s talents. The CD didn’t fare as hoped, leading to a split with their record company.

The momentum shifted after they signed with Disney’s Hollywood Records, which positioned the Jonas Brothers as the next Hanson.

“I think that (part of the appeal is) the fact that we’re not a choreographed dance group,” says Kevin Jonas. “We do write our songs. We perform our songs and play all of the instruments. And I guess that allows us to perform in a way that shows who we are as people. I think it’s another way for people to connect with us.”

The Jonas Brothers’ sound is certainly different from many of their teen pop predecessors. With a power-pop sound—as opposed to an urban-influenced or dance-pop sound like ’N Sync and 98 Degrees—the Jonas Brothers say their new songs are influenced by Elvis Costello, the Beatles, the Animals and the Rascals. In other words, their third CD will be quite different from the previous two—more rocking.

“There’s some Elvis Costello, Prince, obviously the Beatles influence,” says Nick Jonas. “There are a couple of songs that really do have that Prince vibe, and I think it’s a little more funky, but still who we are as a pop-rock band. They’re really fun songs.”

Those who attend the Taj concert will be among the first to hear the new material. “We’re actually going to be playing some brand-new songs from the record we just finished, which will be coming out in the summer,” says Kevin Jonas. “That’s going to be very exciting for a bunch of our fans.”

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

With the success of the Borgata, casino projects in Atlantic City are requiring larger and larger land parcels to achieve new market expectations. But the need for expanded hotel and non-gaming accommodations for tomorrow’s customers sometimes pits developers against existing businesses and residents.

When it comes to eminent domain, legislators must balance the benefits of such projects with the welfare of the community at large. It falls to municipal government to successfully resolve land disputes. Developments of the size and scale envisioned for tomorrow’s Atlantic City provide considerable economic investment to the community, as well as substantial municipal property tax revenue and thousands of construction and operations jobs.

But when property owners don’t want to move, their pleas can’t be ignored. They are taxpayers. They vote or employ other taxpayers.

The U.S. Constitution protects property owners from wrongful takings. The Fifth Amendment declares that private property shall not be taken for public use “without just compensation.” The New Jersey Constitution has a similar guarantee against wrongful takings.

In the 2005 Kelo v. City of New London case, the United States Supreme Court allowed the condemnation of private land for construction as part of the city’s economic redevelopment plan. In New Jersey, courts have defined public use broadly (to include open space) and narrowly (to limit only the lands necessary for a road itself).

Eminent domain is a complex procedure. In Atlantic City, the vast acreage sought by casino developers often requires an “area in need of redevelopment” designation. Under this process, a prospective area, usually containing a diverse mix of properties (vacant, residential and commercial) is identified to allow the condemnation of an entire site to make room for a new project. Now the tricky part begins!

To be named an area in need of redevelopment, the proposed area must be determined to be “blighted.” As you can imagine, the term “blighted” is subject to multiple interpretations. What one person might describe as a seedy area, another might call rustic. In the state Supreme Court definition, “(A)t its core, blight includes deterioration or stagnation that has a decadent effect on surrounding property.”

Empty lots, or vacant and burned-out structures easily satisfy a blighted designation. Existing buildings that are substandard, unsafe, unsanitary or obsolescent can qualify. So might buildings that have obsolete layouts, or are so lacking in light, air or space that it would limit wholesome living or working conditions.

Here’s the monkey wrench. What happens when a property with historical significance is located in a proposed redevelopment area? A historically significant facility might certainly be substandard by today’s building codes. Lack of light and obsolete layouts are among the very characteristics preservationists cite to save certain historic structures.

Take an older commercial establishment, perhaps with apartments above, that has for decades served a small but dedicated customer base. Despite the fact that the owner-occupants are guaranteed “just compensation” in a condemnation action, there is often little opportunity to find an equivalent property elsewhere.

New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald Chen is working to strengthen procedural fairness in eminent domain cases. Chen’s intervention in a recent case challenged a municipality’s declaration that the subject properties were not “fully productive.” He argued successfully that under such criteria, almost all of the land in New Jersey could be deemed not fully productive. The result of that case should caution the state’s municipalities to adopt standards of review supported by substantial evidence.

In a perfect world, Atlantic City will evolve as a major destination resort noted for superior visitor accommodations alongside vibrant, stable neighborhoods.

We might as well aim for perfect. If we remain focused, we may just hit the mark!

By Dave Bontempo   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Atlantic City has launched countless premier executives, many of whom remain in gaming.

Beth Marshall chose an alternate path. The Haverford, Pennsylvania, native, a former Trump Plaza PR specialist, took her public relations savvy into the sports arena. Marshall began as a Philadelphia 76ers intern, worked for the Professional Bowlers Association and just started her fifth season as media director for the Atlanta Braves. It’s a lofty achievement.

There are only 30 major league teams. Thousands of people want to work with them. To succeed at this level, a person must know it all: hard sell, soft sell, when to push, when to be subtle.

Marshall walks a difficult media-client gauntlet. She deals with editors, who view those in her profession with the kind of suspicion usually reserved for salesmen. She deals with clients, who want ink and TV exposure. Serving both ends means dispatching credentials, helping reporters on deadline, pitching stories for clients and keeping a sharp eye on everyone’s best interests. Marshall earned her stripes working for Donald Trump, who brought Mike Tyson to Atlantic City.

“The hours I worked in Trump were ridiculous,” she says, laughing, “but I loved every second of it. The boxing matches were amazing. It was an electric time, the glory days of my generation. Boxing is so cyclical, and at that point—in the late ’80s and early ’90s—it was running high.

“That was only one part of it, though. We also had the casino, the theater, the hotel, the restaurants. No day was ever the same. One day it was something really exciting and sexy, the next moment it’s down-to-earth regular PR. If you work with the right people, you learn to love it even more. You learn how to approach things in a pro-active, rather than a reactive way.”

Marshall found a band of mentors who later gained acclaim. Mitchell Etess became CEO of Mohegan Sun. Gary “Seles the Prez” Selesner is president of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Dave Coskey became a force for the Sixers, the NBA and the House of Blues before becoming Borgata’s marketing czar. Maureen Siman became an ACCVA executive. During Marshall’s realm, they were all blossoming.

Coskey brought Marshall here from the Sixers. He noticed her ability to stay ahead of the job’s demand curve.

“When it comes to PR, there are some people who just ‘get it’,” Coskey says. “Beth has always been one of those people. She’s always been a person who works hard, but more importantly, cares a great deal about what she does.

“Most people don’t know that when we worked with the 76ers back in the ’80s, before the memorabilia craze came around, there were people in every front office of most teams who sometimes ‘helped’ with requests for autographs. That’s obviously changed these days. But back then, Beth did a mean Julius Erving signature. Only one person could tell the difference, and that was me. To this day I still see an autographed piece from those days and I can spot an authentic Beth Marshall autograph.”

To succeed, PR specialists must keep track of hundreds of media contacts, and understand what each one wants. As in sports, anticipation is critical.

“You have to pitch the story to the right people,” Marshall says. “You need to know who the sports editors and sports directors are, who the gossip columnist is, and pitch a story that really makes sense to each person.

“If you send out a press release three or four times a year saying Paul Anka’s coming to town, you could get a listing in the newspaper. But you could also send out a press release saying he grew up around women his whole life, and pitch that to a lifestyles editor. Don’t wait for the story to happen, go forth with your idea.”

One of her favorite PR coups involved a ribbon-cutting for a Trump store tenant. The store’s executives showed up, and the media yawned.

Marshall was asked to get them to come again, for the same thing. That’s nearly impossible, but she pulled it off by bringing Governor Christie Whitman, Donald Trump and Marla Maples, his then-girlfriend. That’s public relations at its best.

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

For most of us, March means seeing green, whether you’re Irish or not. This month’s to-do list includes St. Patrick’s Day events, sports, suds and more. Have fun!

Many Atlantic City restaurants will be represented at the Hammonton Education Foundation’s 5th annual Taste of the Town fundraiser, Sunday, March 2, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hammonton High. Enjoy everything from Boardwalk peanuts and Atlantic City Subs to great Italian, Chinese and Creole-style food and delectable desserts. Advance tickets are $25 and $10 for kids under 14. For more information, call Linda Cashan at 609-567-4516.

The New Jersey State High School Wrestling Championships spring into action at Boardwalk Hall Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. Top high school wrestlers from around the state compete in this highlight of the wrestling season. Preliminaries start on Friday; the tournament concludes with finals and an awards ceremony on Sunday. Tickets are available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office or by calling 609-259-2776.

There may be no better way to rev up for St. Patrick’s Day than the Atlantic City Beer Festival, Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. More than 75 breweries will pour at least 250 different beers and ales from around the world. The popular Celtic band Birnam Wood will keep the place jumping, and local chefs will demonstrate how to cook with beer. Saturday sessions are noon to 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Sunday session is from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. You must be 21 years of age and present photo ID to enter.

Are you ready for some madness? March Madness returns as the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship comes to Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall March 12-15. Whether you want to cheer on your alma mater or just catch a great game of hoops, don’t miss your chance to experience all the action up close.

In support of the championship games, loyal Hibernians from throughout the region will converge on the Boardwalk Saturday, March 15, for the 30th Annual St. Pat’s 10-miler and 5k races. Presented by the Boardwalk Runner’s Club, the races offer a matchless opportunity for students and A-10 alumni to join other registered runners for a dash down the Wooden Way.

Races begin at 9:30 a.m. and finish in front of Boardwalk Hall. All registered runners will receive a long-sleeve commemorative Irish Green shirt and a free pasta buffet and party at Opa, Indiana Avenue and the Boardwalk, immediately afterward. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m., but runners are advised to pre-register by visiting www.atlanticcitymarathon.org or by calling 609-822-6911. Make all checks payable to Boardwalk Runners Club, P.O. Box 2181, Ventnor, NJ 08406-0181.

Of course, it wouldn’t be March without the 23rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade begins, rain or shine, at 1 p.m. March 15 on New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk and ends at Albany Avenue. As always, it promises to be a festival of color, music and fun featuring marching bands, bagpipers and floats.

Later this month, visit the 13th Annual Atlantic City Recreational Vehicle & Camping Show, Friday through Sunday, March 14-16 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. It’s the best place to learn about new RV products, travel destinations and the RV lifestyle. Hours are Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-332-3976 or visit www.macevents.com.

Atlantique City, the Mid-Atlantic’s largest indoor art, antique and collectibles show, comes to the Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30. The show features more than 500 dealers from around the world, free appraisals and free furniture delivery within 200 miles. Shoppers can browse hundreds of specialty booths featuring 1,200 categories of antiques. The unique FindIt! Online merchandiser locator allows visitors to easily navigate the wares. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. To order tickets online, visit www.atlantiquecity.com or call 1-800-526-2724.

You’ll be green with envy if you miss the Murder Mystery at Absecon Lighthouse on South Rhode Island Avenue, Saturday, March 22. Legend has it that the Jersey Devil was once spotted atop of the lighthouse. Now you can try to catch him and solve a murder at the same time. Refreshments will be served. For information, call Absecon Lighthouse at 609-449-1360.

March goes out like a lion when Van Halen reunites for its first tour in 22 years on Friday, March 28. Presented by Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the concert will feature the classic hits of David Lee Roth with Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen. For more information, contact Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

By Dave Bontempo   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

March Madness invades Atlantic City March 12-15. Boardwalk Hall will host the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball championship, crowning an automatic entrant into the NCAA postseason tournament that begins the following week.

For basketball fans, this is the ultimate smorgasbord: 11 games in four days, including four games apiece on March 12 and March 13. For alumni, it’s a great excuse to come gamble in Atlantic City.

But for Jeff Vasser, executive director of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, who landed the event last year, this is an interesting gamble with an upside. If ticket sales and concessions generate a minimum of $800,000, the ACCVA will have brought thousands of people here, at no financial risk.

Tickets are reasonably priced between $25 and $55 per session. Familiarity alone should boost sales. Ditto the improved A-10, which sported four teams in the top 25 at one point during the season. Xavier, Dayton and Rhode Island were red-hot and nationally ranked heading into the homestretch, and they weren’t even leading the A-10.

“We’ve created the perfect storm for good basketball at the end of the season,” says Ray Cella, associate commissioner of the A-10.

“There was a down period in the last couple of seasons, when many teams lost star players to graduation. They have been rebuilding, and it’s a real good league right now. In terms of national recognition, the A-10 is back up where it belongs.”

In the spirit of championship play, let’s track the A-10 saga using some significant basketball terms.

TIP OFF

The games begin March 12 at noon. There are afternoon and evening doubleheaders March 12 and March 13, followed by two games on the 14th and the finals March 15.

Who plays whom? Look at the seedings. Twelve teams actually qualify for the tournament. The top four seeds receive a bye into the quarterfinals. Here’s how the schedule stacks up.

Opening Round • March 12

Noon -- 8 versus 9 seed

2:30 p.m.-- 5 versus 12 seed

6:30 p.m. -- 7 versus 10 seed

9 p.m. -- 6 versus 11 seed

The break between games is listed for 23 minutes. Winners on this day join the four teams who had a bye and comprise the field of eight for the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals • March 13

Games at Noon, 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.

Winners from this round comprise the A-10’s Final Four.

Championship Rounds • March 14-15

Semifinals: March 14, 6:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.

Championship: March 15 at 6 p.m.

There is no consolation game for third place.

FULL COURT PRESS

That's what the city did this year. It attended A-10 games during the season, passing out package information directly to the schools. This gave Atlantic City an earlier marketing start than last year. Casinos also became involved. Andy Swenson, vice president of marketing for Harrah’s Atlantic City, says Bally’s offered a $1,199 package with four-night room packages, two tickets to every game, and coupon books for its shops and the Pier at Caesars. Harrah’s made the same offer for $100 less.

“We put it on our website and the ACCVA and Boardwalk Hall websites, and we’d like to do what we can to grow this tournament,” Swenson says. “We’re getting the word out about the ticket packages, as are Boardwalk Hall and the ACCVA. We’re telling people, ‘Come on in, this is great.’ It really is. This tournament is in its infancy, and we think it will survive and thrive in the city.”

Casino involvement centered mostly on high-roller parties last year. Swenson noticed that the tournament provided approximately 1,000 room nights at Bally’s last year.

“That equated to perhaps 250 to 300 new customers as a result of the tournament,” he observes. “This year we not only helped with the packages, but targeted alumni groups. We’re utilizing all four of our properties.”

The move guarantees at least some future business. Every new customer generated will probably result in at least two or three Atlantic City visits over the course of each following year.

SLAM DUNK

The deal between the ACCVA and the A-10 provided a $700,000 guarantee to the conference for at least two years and delivered the marketing support. The Atlantic City group provided the same money to A-10 that it had granted Miss America.

While other cities like Dayton, Ohio, offered substantially more money, Atlantic City had two wild cards. One was the lineup of shopping and gaming outside of basketball. Two was the issue it sought to parlay into a permanent home for the tournament. Neutrality reigns supreme here. One prior complaint among coaches was about playing in the final, with an NCAA berth at stake, in the opponents’ gym.

Boardwalk Hall is not home to any of the teams, although three Philadelphia teams reside 60-70 miles away.

Throughout the winter, the A-10 and AC were closing in on a three-year extension, which would result in Atlantic City hosting the tournament five straight years. That’s practically ownership.

THREE- POINTER

Although Atlantic City is a neutral site, attendance gets a huge spike if a Philadelphia team reaches the weekend round. St. Joseph’s, LaSalle and Temple fans won’t mind a 70-mile trip here and would bring Boardwalk Hall close to a sellout.

FREE THROWS

Some added points come with the Walk getting involved in the Fun Fest, giving people a place to hang out, with discounts on shopping.

BUZZER BEATER

Atlantic City wants to complete the three-year extension before Linda Bruno resigns as commissioner in June. Although the next commissioner may favor keeping the deal in Atlantic City, Bruno forged the original deal with Vasser.

CHAMPIONSHIP

George Washington is the defending tournament champion. The A-10 spans eight states and the District of Columbia. Its 14 teams are at Temple, Xavier, St. Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure, LaSalle, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Duquesne, Fordham, UMass, Dayton, St. Louis, George Washington, Rhode Island and Richmond.

HALL HOSTS WRESTLING

The New Jersey State High School Wrestling championships are at Boardwalk Hall March 7-9. The preliminaries are March 7 starting at 5 p.m. The biggest action is March 8 with sessions at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The consolations and finals unfold at 10 a.m. March 9.

The finals occur in 14 weight classes, from 103 pounds to heavyweight. They culminate a season for grapplers that began in November. Although casinos don’t heavily push the pre-gambling high school market, parents of wrestlers stay at the properties.

By Sharon Harris-Zlotnick   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Experience mixed with good food is a sure recipe for success in the restaurant business. Sister-brother team Rose Gualtieri and Joe Franco have perfected the formula at their two Barrels restaurants, in Linwood’s Central Square and Margate.

Rose runs Barrels in Margate and Joey oversees the Linwood restaurant, both staffed by multiple generations of the family. Gualtieri and Franco learned the business from their parents, who owned a bar/restaurant in South Philadelphia. Their father Johnny, a portly man, was nicknamed “Barrels”—hence the name.

After running a takeout location for five years in Ventnor, Gualtieri opened a takeout Barrels store in 1994. In 1998, she bought a property in Margate for a full-sized restaurant. Joe opened the Central Square Barrels in March 2000.

Both restaurants have full-service, sit-down dining rooms and takeout. Most of the menu items are Italian, although they do not serve pizza.

Every day, each location has several homemade soup specials ($1.99 for cups, $3.95 per pint and $7.95 for a quart). The soups are so popular, people often stop by to stock up on their way out of town. Takeout is key at Barrels; Franco says more than half their business at both sites is takeout.

The lunch and dinner entrees differ in portion size and price. Pastas are served with a choice of several homemade sauces. Only the lunch menu includes dozens of hot and cold sandwiches. Popular specialties include chicken, pork, turkey and prosciutto sandwiches. There are also salads and appetizers. Lunch prices range from $3.95 for sandwiches to $8.95 for platters.

The dinner menu lists varied hot and cold appetizers, from $3 to $13; salads come in two sizes, with small plates ranging from $6 to $13 and large entrée-sized salads costing $8 to $16.

Fourteen chicken dishes may also be ordered as veal versions. A wide variety of fish and seafood is cooked in several styles that are complemented by fresh vegetables, sauces and condiments.

The chicken dishes average in the low $20s and the veal entrees average the mid-$20s. Numerous pasta dishes, from $13 to $21, may be accented with homemade meatballs and sausage. The eggplant rollentini, involtini and lasagna are signature homemade dishes.

A refrigerated display case showcases delectable desserts such as tiramisu, cheesecakes, carrot cake and their award-winning cannolis. As an extra treat, everyone receives a handful of mini chocolates with the dinner check.

CHEF'S CORNER

Shrimp Franchaise

Lightly battered sauteed shrimp served over linguine

Ingredients (serves 1 to 2)

6 to 8 large shrimp

2 eggs

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/2 fresh lemon juice

3 to 4 oz. butter salt, white pepper and parsley to taste

To Prepare

Whisk eggs in a bowl, add parmesan cheese and blend.

Cut shrimp down the middle to butterfly. Dip shrimp in batter until coated. Saute shrimp in light oil until golden brown, approximately one minute. Set aside.

To create sauce drain oil from pan and add chicken stock. Add lemon juice and thicken sauce with butter. Add shrimp to heat through and season with parsley, salt and white pepper. Serve over bed of linguine or other fresh pasta.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Casino Connection: Let’s talk about the congressional gaming caucus that you had a role in setting up.

Congressman LoBiondo: I found myself a freshman congressman-elect with about 70 others like me, including John Ensign from Nevada. They had us in orientation, and without knowing much about John or where he was from, we had a very good chemistry. After spending some time with each other, we very quickly realized that we both represented similar interests. We talked about how we could improve how we represent those interests, our constituents, our districts, and came up with the gaming caucus. We were co-chairs, and it ended up being something very productive for the people we represent.

And it is bipartisan, correct?

It is bipartisan, it always has been and I hope it always will be. Nevada’s Shelley Berkley has taken the lead this year. She has been involved with us since she was elected to Congress. We’ve had various folks become involved and take lead positions, focusing on what we can do for our constituents in the gaming industry.

Congress has been looking at internet gaming. There have been several bills allowing certain kinds of internet gaming and not others. I believe you are a co-sponsor of a bill to set up a federal study panel. Where is that going?

I think that’s the way to go. The bill that Congressman (Barney) Frank has, out of the Financial Services Committee, is well-intended, but presents big problems. If we are to move forward, we really need to do it right, and the current situation is not right.

The bill I’ve co-sponsored with Congressmen (Jon) Porter and Berkley of Nevada would set up a study commission so that, with today’s state-of-the-art technology, we could intelligently and accurately determine what is the best course of action to take.

While the gaming companies have been rather low-key on Chairman Frank’s bill, I think it’s pretty clear they’d like to see this study.

My fear is that this could be the front edge of a federal agency to get the federal government involved with casino gaming. Some people want to see federal regulation and federal taxation. If you have the feds create their own agency to regulate internet gaming, then who’s to say they won’t pass a bill regulating all gaming? I don’t think so. Not from my vantage point.

You’re up for election this year and rumor has it the Democrats have targeted you as one of the vulnerable seats in New Jersey. Do you believe the Democrats are wielding more power in your district, and what’s your outlook on the upcoming race?

I have officially been targeted by the DCCC, the Democrat Campaign Congressional Committee. It is pretty clear that New Jersey is a much bluer state than it was just a few years back. Whether it’s the Democrats in Washington or the Democrats in New Jersey, they’re looking at what the recent trends have been.

I take every race very seriously. I’m preparing this time for a full-blown attack, if you will, because I think that’s their method of operation. I always work very hard at doing the best to represent my constituents, so I don’t think it’s a situation where people haven’t heard from me or seen me and all of a sudden, three months before the election, LoBiondo shows up. Rarely a weekend goes by that I’m not at multiple events for one reason or another.

In addition to being very bullish on Atlantic City, I’ve been a strong advocate for the environment, healthcare, education and a whole host of other things that I think people can relate to in the real world.

Things happen in Washington and sometimes it’s very complicated. The wording is difficult. But back-home people get it if you can easily explain what you’re doing and why. It’s been a great honor to represent the district, so I welcome the opportunity to talk about what I’ve done and where I’d like to go from here.

One issue that keeps coming up in the Atlantic City area is sports betting. Do you see any hope that we could revive that issue, even get New Jersey a second bite at the apple, so to speak?

First of all, I’ve been a strong supporter of sports betting. It’s a component that makes all the sense in the world. Like internet gaming, we know that sports betting is going on, we know it’s not being done legally, and we know that this can cause big problems. I think Nevada and the other jurisdictions that have it have proven that it’s very viable. It’s another tool the casinos can use to continue with the economic stimulus they’re providing in the jobs.

I was disappointed when New Jersey didn’t have the ability to vote in the early ’90s on this, but it appears that legislative action is proceeding. New Jersey has a rather unique point of view, in that the federal laws are unconstitutional for interstate commerce reasons. So the state, if in fact it passes and enacts this, can challenge the feds in court. I would welcome that. I’d love to see us be victorious. I think it would be a great win for New Jersey and for Atlantic City. I’m a little bit unclear what the Senate’s going to do, but I’d love to see it on November’s ballot.

Atlantic City is on its third mayor in less than a year. An election in November could even bring a fourth mayor. Do you favor any kind of state control over Atlantic City?

Well, it’s a huge concern. It’s been a black eye for Atlantic City, it’s been a black eye for New Jersey. I’ve had to bite my lip about what’s going on. I hope Atlantic City (officials) can understand how fragile the people’s confidence could be if the wrong things happen.

If New Jersey were a state where they were running a surplus, where the government was running extremely well, where people were coming to the state instead of flocking away from the state, then maybe it would make some sense to suggest that we look at New Jersey taking over Atlantic City.

As bad as Atlantic City is, to imagine that the state of New Jersey would take it over and do to Atlantic City what they’ve done to the rest of the state is a horrifying thought. And I would not support that in any way, shape or form at this point.

Governor Corzine has proposed a huge revenue raiser in boosting the tolls in New Jersey. Obviously there’s a huge budget deficit there. Are you in favor of his proposal, or would you favor some other way to close that budget deficit?

The plan the governor is recommending is very, very problematic. The governor’s answer to that is, “Give me the solution to this.” But to borrow more than $30 billion and have a $110 billion or $120 billion payback, run it over 75 years and not give the voters a chance to say something about it, I think is wrong.

The racing industry was paid $80 million over the last three years and they’re looking for somewhere around $100 million for the next three years. Where does it end?

I think it’s terribly wrong. It’s almost like somebody on the street coming up to you and saying, you know, I know where you live, I know where your kids are, I have a gun, and you’re either going to pay me a $1,000 or something bad is going to happen.

So if the Atlantic City casinos say they’re not going to pay this money, we know they’ll been threatened with VLTs and who knows what else. It’s very bad policy and if these racetracks are so important, then why aren’t people supporting them?

In our society, if you do well, you succeed. The casinos should not have to pay for the faults of the racing industry and its inability to run a profitable business.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

"I think Appalachian State would have to beat the Giants before the federal government would allow us to change the law to permit sports betting in casinos." —Richard J. Codey, New Jersey Senate president, on an Assembly bill that would put a sports betting question on the November ballot

"For (racetracks) to blame us for their failure is ridiculous. Even if that were the case, so what? Is Smith Corona looking for a subsidy from IBM?"  —Joe Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, on the call from the state’s racing industry for Atlantic City casinos to increase the subsidy they pay the tracks. Absent VLTs at the tracks, the racing industry says it needs subsidies to survive

"We aim to be supreme over all other competing casinos. We will always offer a better deal for our players."  —Jim Allen, CEO of the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, after the casino installed the state’s first Class III slot machines outside of South Florida racetracks

"Already faced with meat-ax cuts to staff and operational budgets that have destroyed morale and come close to turning the property into a dump, workers are now facing even more indignities at the hands of the Kentucky-based halfwits who run the Trop."  —Las Vegas Sun business editor Jeff Simpson in a story about the continued incompetence of Columbia Sussex executives running the Tropicana in Las Vegas

"The Palazzo takes no lessons from the nimble, youthful boutique-hotel movement or from wittily-themed Vegas hotels. Instead, the 50-story complex feels more like an inflated Four Seasons. To put it in fashion terms, it's a well-bred woman in a beige Armani pantsuit, while its Siamese-twin sister, the Venetian, is a siren in a Roberto Cavalli cocktail dress."  —Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times travel writer, reviewing the newest Vegas property

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Longtime Harrah’s Atlantic City executive Tim Wilmott last month was named the new president and chief operating officer of Penn National Gaming.

Wilmott was chief operating officer for Harrah’s Entertainment when he resigned last year. Before his four years in charge of operations for the nationwide operator, he was president of Harrah’s Atlantic City for a year and head of Harrah’s Eastern Division in Atlantic City for five years, during which time he oversaw the company’s acquisitions of the Hilton, Caesars, Bally’s and Claridge casinos on its way to becoming the world’s largest casino operator.

Wilmott will oversee a company in Penn National that is still on the rise. The company opened its slot operation at its flagship Penn National Race Course outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, last month, and is often mentioned as a candidate for expansion into Atlantic City. That includes its most recent offer to buy the 140-acre Bader Field site from the city for $800 million. (The city is expected to reject the offer and put Bader up for auction.)

Penn National is has reached a deal to be acquired by two private equity firms for $6.1 billion. The deal should close sometime this year.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Louis DeNaples, owner of the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains resort region, was charged last month with four counts of perjury by state prosecutors.

Immediately after the indictment was handed down, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced the suspension of DeNaples’ slot license, by emergency order of board Executive Director Anne Neeb. The casino will remain open, but will be operated by a trustee. All profits will be placed in an escrow account until the case is resolved.

The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office charged that DeNaples lied to state gaming regulators when he denied having any connections with organize crime figures. The state Gaming Control Board concluded he was truthful at the time and, after concluding a background check, unanimously approved DeNaples’ slot license.

A grand jury found that DeNaples gave false responses to gaming board questions concerning ties to the late Northeast Pennsylvania mob boss Russell Bufalino; William D’Elia, a reputed mob boss in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Bufalino's onetime driver; the late Ron White, a chief fund-raiser for former Philadelphia Mayor John Street who was swept up in a broad political corruption investigation; and Shamsud-din Ali, the Philadelphia imam who was charged in connection with that corruption investigation.

The jury took testimony dozens of witnesses, including D’Elia himself, who is currently facing federal money-laundering and conspiracy charges.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Voters in Florida’s Miami-Dade County last month approved the addition of slot machines to three parimutuel facilities. Miami-Dade voters two years ago rejected slots, after a state law was passed permitting local-option slots in that county and Broward County.

While Broward voters approved and three parimutuel facilities have since added slots, Miami-Dade voters were swayed by a last-minute anti-slot campaign led by former Governor Jeb Bush.

However, as expected, in the more-gaming-friendly era under current Governor Charlie Crist, voters easily approved slots. The referendum coasted to victory by a margin of 2-1, despite an 11th-hour campaign by anti-gaming activist Rev. Tom Grey to form a coalition of anti-gaming groups in an attempt to defeat the second referendum.

The law provides a maximum of 2,000 slots for each of three Miami-Dade parimutuel facilities, although estimates from the facilities themselves indicate that each will operate around 1,500 games. Slots will be added to Calder Race Course horse track, Flagler Dog Track and Miami Jai-Alai.

Robert Evans, CEO of Calder owner Churchill Downs, Inc., praised the decision on slots as a way to permit the thoroughbred track to compete in the area of purses.

“Thoroughbred tracks without slot machine gaming are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to providing the competitive purse programs that attract the number of horses required to conduct high-quality racing,” Evans said in a statement.

The Miami-Dade parimutuels will have some daunting competition, as the state’s Seminole casinos went live with their own Class III slots last month. South Florida parimutuel operators are faced with competing with the tribe’s slots under a tax rate that requires them to turn much more of their revenues to the state than will be required of the tribe.

Broward parimutuels have cited that competition as a reason they have generated less revenue than originally predicted.

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

The recent citywide revaluation raises property values an average of three to 12 times, shifting more of the tax burden to home and condominium owners. Higher property taxes affect both owners and renters. Do you think for a moment that landlords will not pass on the city-increased expense?

We’ve been promised a property tax relief fund with proceeds from the sale of Bader Field, but it will only squelch the flames of public discontent temporarily—there isn’t a Bader Field to sell every year.

Here are steps to deflate the bloated budget.

Evaluate existing personnel. Anyone not meeting the objective qualifications for a position should be fired immediately. There have been instances of multiple employees performing duplicate functions while important functions—like posting public information on the internet—are ignored.

For example, Weights and Measures was previously consolidated with the county, but during William Marsh’s short-sprint mayoral tenure, the department was re-created, adding two employees to a job the county had already been doing. Departments should work with the county to require fewer workers.

Sell city-owned vehicles. The city paid $2,086,496 for vehicle maintenance and $1,050,000 for gas in 2007. Have more employees car-pool and walk. Fire officials should not receive free vehicles. Volunteer firemen in other communities drive to the scene of active fires in their own vehicles and pay for their own gas.

Phase out cell phone plans. There is more accountability when cell phones are used only for emergencies and phone minutes are justified on a continued basis, rather than monthly plans allowing personal use. A reform would cut most of the $75,000 currently spent.

Don’t pay for dues, memberships and subscriptions. By all means, join the National Association of Assistant Tax Collectors. Just do not expect us to pay for you. The city paid more than $31,000 last year for professional association memberships, magazine subscriptions and civic groups. Taxpayers pay $144,000 for education and training. What are city employees learning?

Remember that council positions are part-time. So do away with benefits, vehicles and cell phones for council members. Deduct the salaries of council people who miss monthly meetings.

Don’t ignore allegations of harassment and discrimination. Taxpayers should not have to pay over $500,000 in legal fees, not to mention court settlements, to resolve these disputes. Every allegation should be investigated in a timely manner by an independent investigator. One lawsuit incessantly follows another against unprofessional city supervisors and workers—that’s unacceptable.

Shake things up. No elected official has pledged to accept only a reduced city budget—not the mayor, and not one member of City Council. Citizens of Atlantic City, stand up and re-stack the deck. The cards have been dealt against you.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Plans for a major expansion of the Hilton and Resorts Atlantic City have ground to a halt, for now.

President Tony Rodio points to several factors—a sluggish economy and the casinos’ first-ever revenue slump in 2007—as good reasons to proceed with caution.

“We looked at a major expansion, then a scaled-down expansion” for the Hilton, Rodio said in January. “Right now, with the uncertainty in the markets, that’s on hold. But that’s not something we can’t revisit.”

Parent company Colony Capital LLC had planned to construct a 1,000-room tower at the Hilton with a 120,000-square-foot gaming floor, 3,500-seat theater, restaurants, shops and parking for 3,000 cars.

Now the Hilton and its sister property, Resorts, will have to make do with smaller improvements at their existing facilities; Resorts added more than 60 rooms in 2007.

Other properties are doing in-house renovations as well. Caesars has pumped $75 million into a project to update 900 rooms and 180 suites in its Temple and Centurion towers. The new look—rich, comfortable and contemporary with a neutral palette—includes plasma TVs (in-room and in the bathroom mirror!), Bose sound systems and iPod docking stations.

The improvements—with new carpet, bedding, furnishings and more—are expected to attract the most discerning clients, particularly high rollers who are already rolling in to take advantage of increased table game limits.

In December, Caesars raised the limits at Palace Court and Palace East so blackjack players can gamble up to $50,000 per hand or $25,000 per hand on three hands. Dice players can wager $50,000 on the line with $50,000 odds, plus the biggest prop bets in the city. Most of the rooms should be finished by summer.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Need help to pay for college? Want to honor an exceptional local teacher? The deadline is March 15 for two awards presented by the Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association.

Atlantic City residents working toward a degree or certification in any higher education program, two years long or longer, can apply for a $1,500 MBCA scholarship. Applicants of all ages will be considered.

The MBCA is also accepting nominations for its annual Outstanding Teacher/Professor Recognition Award, a $1,500 grant to fund supplies, equipment or student incentives for a city educator’s classroom initiative.

Since 1996, the MBCA Scholarship Foundation has given away more than $75,000 in scholarships and teacher grants.

For more information, call 609-348-1903 or visit www.acmetbiz.com.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

The United Way of Atlantic County presents its fifth annual Auction for the Community Friday, March 14 in the Traymore Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City.

Hosted by Lisa Johnson, Casino Connection columnist and president of Lisa Johnson Communications, the event includes a silent auction at 6 p.m., live auction at 7:30 p.m., open bar and full dinner buffet. It will also feature a tribute to Joe Kelly, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber and a longtime United Way supporter. Tickets are $100.

Sponsors include Harrah’s Entertainment, TN Ward, Pinnacle Entertainment, Casino Connection, Glenn Insurance, and MC Golf Academy. Among the many items up for bid: sports memorabilia, golf packages for more than 17 courses, a custom backyard putting green, spa and restaurant packages, shore getaways, a model LX 150 Vespa, Flyers and 76ers tickets and an autographed Nascar helmet.

For more information, call 609-404-4483 or visit www.unitedwayac.org.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

If anyone can spot a good deal, it’s Donald Trump. By investing $25 million to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at his three Atlantic City casinos, he’ll get an $11 million tax break every year.

When energy prices escalated after the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, Trump looked for ways to slash his utility bills. An energy conservation company called Concord Atlantic decreased the output of global warming gases by 95 percent at the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina. The three casinos will use 90 million kilowatt hours less electricity a year, a 15.88 percent reduction, and save 75 million gallons of water.

The savvy businessman did not take Concord Atlantic at its word about the potential benefits. He insisted on a guarantee of energy savings, or reimbursement for his losses.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

World-famous Patsy's Italian Restaurant, a preferred New York hang of Frank Sinatra, is coming to Atlantic City.

Co-owner Sal Scognamillo is bringing the famous Neopolitan eatery to the AC Hilton (Sinatra performed there when it was Steve Wynn’s Golden Nugget). It will take the place of Caruso’s.

Founded in 1944 by Sal’s grandfather, Pasquale Scognamillo, Patsy’s quickly became a fixture in New York’s theater district and a favorite of celebrities.

Only three chefs—Scognamillos all—have been entrusted with the menu of signature dishes like chicken Contadina, seafood-stuffed calamari and striped bass Marechiare.

Hilton President Tony Rodio hails the addition of Patsy’s Italian to the casino’s second floor, which just added an Asian room, a poker room and bar in the Oaks.

Rodio called the restaurant “very traditional and elegant at the same time… very comfortable, with lots of woods. It will be the focal point of the second level.”

Patsy's will feature its own bar and lounge with combined seating for approximately 180. It is slated to open around Memorial Day.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

The Tropicana Casino & Resort has begun taking formal bids to buy the property, says Gary Stein, the former New Jersey state Supreme Court Justice currently overseeing the casino resort.

At a reporter’s roundtable last month along with Tropicana President Mark Giannantonio, Stein said that the two bids already received—an $800 million offer from Resorts International owner Colony Capital, and a $950 million offer from a New York investment group—will not necessarily be considered stronger or weaker because they were the first bids received.

Stein and Giannantonio both said the Tropicana has begun its recovery from a year in which revenues dropped more than any other casino in Atlantic City.

“I’ve been visiting the property weekly, and I’m absolutely delighted at the progress made,” Stein said. “The casino is being managed in a professional and diligent way. I get a sense of a lot of energy; employee morale is terrific.”

Giannantonio said that the property plans to become competitive by adding back retail comps to the Tropicana’s player’s club and increasing the club’s cashback level by 25 percent.

Giannantonio appreciates the input of two consultants appointed to help run the property pending the sale: former Trop President Pam Popielarski and G. Michael Brown, former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and a former president of the Foxwoods casino resort in Connecticut.

“They’ve been outstanding,” Giannantonio said. He also praised the property’s employees, saying whoever buys the property will get “great assets—not only in bricks and mortar, but in the people who work here.”

Giannantonio said 125 new employees have already been hired—after attrition, a net increase of around 80. More hires are on the way, but the total numbers of the staff increases will depend on how revenues rebound. Giannantonio would not promise or rule out a return to the staffing levels present before Columbia Sussex bought the property.

Stein said his goal is to pick a buyer and have a purchase contract signed by the end of April, with a final sale closing by June.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Last month the New Jersey State Assembly voted overwhelmingly to put the question of legal sports betting in the hands of the voters.

The bill was approved 58-17 on February 7. If signed into law, it goes on the ballot this fall; if voters approve, the state can challenge the federal government’s ban on wagering as an unconstitutional infringement of state’s rights. The federal prohibition is ostensibly a way to regulate interstate commerce.

State Senator Jim Whelan thinks Jersey voters will approve the measure, but warns it won’t be an easy fight. “The big obstacle to making it a reality is the federal ban on sports betting… which won't go away just by our passing a bill in the Statehouse,” he said.

Federal law prohibits sports gambling in all but four states: Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. Under a 1992 act sponsored by then-Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey, any state that had allowed casino gambling for 10 years had a year to pass a sports-wagering law. New Jersey missed the deadline and is paying for it now, as slot parlors in Pennsylvania and Delaware skim vital revenue from Atlantic City. Last year, the casino industry here posted its first-ever revenue decline—$4.92 billion in 2007, down from $5.21 billion in 2006. Only three casinos reported increases.

Proponents of the bill say Atlantic City could reap $800 million a year from sports gambling, a fraction of the estimated $80 billion or more wagered illegally each year in the United States.

"As competition grows, it is important—it is paramount—that we ensure the revenue stream continues to be there," bill sponsor Senator Jeff Van Drew told Newsday.

Unfortunately, along with the feds, the NFL itself opposes expanded sports betting, claiming it will turn football games into “betting vehicles.” New York Giants tackle Kareem McKenzie agrees, saying legal betting will attract an unsavory element to Atlantic City.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said McKenzie, before accepting an Assembly resolution to honor the Super Bowl champs. “Then again, it’s not my decision.”

The NCAA has also registered its opposition. Local representatives have joined in a bipartisan effort to push the bill through. In the 1st and 2nd Districts (Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic counties), Assembly Democrats Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam voted for the measure, as did Republicans John Amodeo and Vince Polistina. Congressman Frank LoBiondo is for it. Governor Jon Corzine has pledged to overturn the federal ban during his administration.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

The last time New Jersey legislators failed to pass a budget on time, the government of the entire state closed, along with Atlantic City’s casino industry. Two South Jersey senators are working to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

In 2006, lawmakers missed the June 30 budget deadline, forcing a state shutdown that lasted three days. Because there was no way to pay casino inspectors (even though the casinos, not the state, pays these employees), the lights went out in Atlantic City.

The state lost almost $4 million in tax revenue, casino employees forfeited $10 million in wages and tips, and casino vendors also felt the sting. And the loss in casino revenue was also substantial.

Last month, District 1 Senator Jeff Van Drew sponsored a bill to make the Casino Control Fund independent of the state treasury, so casinos will be unaffected if lawmakers hit another stalemate. “We absolutely should not tolerate this embarrassment,” Van Drew said.

It could be timely legislation. With New Jersey awash in debt, the next budget could be even more problematic. Governor Jon Corzine’s proposal to mortgage state toll roads to pay off billions in bonds has met with howls of opposition from a fed-up public, and politicians are jumping on the anti-toll bandwagon.

District 2 Senator Jim Whelan, also of Atlantic County, is sponsoring a second bill to make any job essential that “preserves and protects the state's financial assets, resources and revenue generating operations.” The category would include casino inspectors and other employees of the state lottery, liquor and tobacco industries.

By Casino Connection Staff   Wed, Feb 27, 2008

The long-awaited Waterfront Tower at Harrah’s will take a bow Thursday, March 6 with a gala ribbon-cutting celebration at 10 a.m. At 44 stories, it’s the city’s tallest casino structure to date.

The debut comes on the heels of Harrah’s acquisition in January by affiliates of privately-held Texas Pacific Group and Apollo Global Management. At a cool $17.1 billion, it was the largest-ever casino buyout, and presumably enables Harrah’s to move ahead with a $4 billion expansion plan at its casinos around the world.

Waterfront Tower is the culmination of a $550 million addition here in Atlantic City. When complete this summer, the tower will offer 961 rooms, suites and super-suites with amenities like plasma TVs, water-jet showers, in-room theaters, limestone floors and fireplaces.

The concourse below includes the Waterfront Shops (seven retail boutiques, from Sony to Studio to Park Place Jewelers), and The Pool, a “tropical paradise” beneath a 90-foot glass dome complete with swaying palms, an 80,000-gallon heated pool, bar, outdoor sun deck and private hot tubs.

Available for the hungry Harrah’s patron is Tastes of the Shore. (Forget the high-falutin’ cuisine. Nothing says ‘Jersey Shore’ like subs, soft pretzels, pizza and ice cream.) The new food court features:

• Ben & Jerry's Scoop & Chocolate Shop, featuring premium sundaes, shakes and cones, chocolate-dipped pretzels, caramel-filled waffles and Jersey Shore fudge. • Philly Soft Pretzel Factory, with soft pretzels fresh from the oven, pretzel dogs and sausages, and delectable dips.

• Sack O’ Subs. Atlantic City’s White House Sub Shop made the Sacco family famous among sub-lovers, and the tradition continues. Features locally made, world-famous Atlantic City-style Italian rolls.

• Walt’s Original Primo Pizza. Enjoy award-winning, thin-crust oven-baked pizza. Dough, sauce and other ingredients are prepared fresh daily.

• Reflections Café. With views of the back bay’s protected marshes, Reflections Café is a popular spot to grab a salad, sandwich or slice of brick-oven pizza.

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

This month, March Madness takes over Atlantic City as we welcome the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship, March 12-15 at Boardwalk Hall. Last year’s championship was a great success; this year is going to be even bigger. Whether you’re an alum, a fan, or just curious to see what all the hoopla is about, I encourage you to check out March Madness, Atlantic City style.

The defending champions of George Washington University will vie for top honors along with Xavier University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham University, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joe’s, Saint Louis University and Temple.

An exciting addition this year is FanZone, an interactive entertainment area free to all ticket holders, Thursday through Saturday in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall.

Presented by the Nike Factory Store at Atlantic City Outlets-The Walk, FanZone will feature food and drinks, official A-10 merchandise, a basketball court, face painting, inflatable games, a lounge area filled with big-screen TVs, and plenty of fun for fans of all ages.

Thursday and Friday, you can bid on sports memorabilia at a silent auction. In addition, a 25-by-35-foot inflatable screen will broadcast live games from across the country.

11th Annual Host Awards

Also this month, the ACCVA is accepting nominations for the annual Host Awards, honoring Atlantic City employees who embody the highest standards of hospitality. The nomination deadline is March 31. Up to five finalists will be chosen in each category. All finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 14.

Proceeds from both the Atlantic 10 Championship FanZone silent auction and the Host Awards will benefit the ACCVA Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charity created to attract a diversity of visitors to Atlantic City, foster investment in the city, and encourage quality partnerships in and around the region. The foundation’s goal is to attract sporting and arts-related events and promote multi-cultural and heritage tourism.

The foundation will also seek grants and charitable donations to help underserved people and create scholarship opportunities for tourism training and education. It encourages projects and initiatives that support ethnic appreciation and aid people with disabilities. For more information on the ACCVA Foundation, call Peter Elco at 609-449-7106.

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Super Bowl 2008 has come and gone. What a memorable game it was, with two East Coast teams competing, and the underdog Giants triumphant in a nail-biting finish.

While it was just an ordinary Sunday in February for our casinos, imagine the excitement if sports betting were legal in Atlantic City. If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas on a Sunday during football season, or during any other major sporting event, you know the action and excitement that surrounds the legal sports books in Vegas.

If key members of the state legislature have their way, New Jersey casinos will someday offer legal sports betting. But federal law prohibits sports wagering in all but four states grandfathered in during the early 1990s (most notably Nevada). It will take an act of Congress or a court decision to end the prohibition and bring legalized sports betting to New Jersey’s casinos.

Everyone knows that sports betting already happens in New Jersey, as it does in other states, through illegal bookmakers and internet betting (both unregulated and tax-free). If sports betting was legal here, we believe the revenues would equal or exceed the amounts wagered on the Las Vegas Strip—approximately $700 million a year. This would generate gross gaming revenue of approximately $50 million. At the current rate of 8 percent, taxable revenue for New Jersey would increase by about $4 million. This estimate may be conservative when you consider the density of our nearby population, and our legendary love of sports.

While these revenue projections are not huge, every little bit helps. Sports wagering would be another important piece of the puzzle in Atlantic City’s efforts to become a true destination resort, like Las Vegas, with a full-service gaming experience. It would also result in more non-gaming revenue (hotel occupancy, more food and beverage consumption, more retail and other non-gaming spending).

A respected and thorough regulatory environment is already in place via the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement. With legal sports betting, New Jersey would provide a second regulatory system, in addition to Nevada’s, to oversee the multi- billion-dollar sports betting industry that already exists in our country.

The NFL is against it, saying legal sports betting in New Jersey will risk the integrity of pro sports. We respectfully disagree. Professional sports leagues have only grown in stature in the years that legal, regulated sports wagering has been permitted in Nevada. Why would the introduction of sports wagering here change anything? And how would the sports leagues be damaged if the illegal gambling that we all know occurs becomes legal and regulated?

CANJ supports the passage of legislation to bring legal wagering on professional sports to Atlantic City. We admit it’s a long shot. But as we just saw in the Super Bowl, sometimes long shots win. Just ask the Giants.

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

The freight train that is the development of Bader Field keeps moving forward and picking up steam. My question is “Why?”

Atlantic City is currently in a major business slump. We’ve seen gross gaming revenues decline for the first time in almost 30 years. Some have speculated that the deterioration is due to increased competition from Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. And when you add the partial smoking ban to the equation, it’s exacerbated.

My personal opinion is that the bad economy is having as much impact, if not more, than those factors. Whatever the reasons, revenues are down for at least the next year, if not longer. So what’s the rush to develop Bader Field to add even more casinos to a market that is now clearly struggling?

We’ve already got one new billion-dollar-plus casino in the ground. Another has been announced by Pinnacle Entertainment at the old Sands site. And a third, this one a massive $5 billion project, is being planned for the Marina District adjacent to the Borgata and Harrah’s. The history of new casinos in Atlantic City is that they first cannibalize the market and then grow it. It’s going to take at least 10 years to absorb the increased capacity of these projects, and if you throw the development of Bader Field into the mix, it will undoubtedly cause several existing casinos to fail.

Is anyone considering that?

Most troubling is the involvement of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. Here’s a group that exists because it is funded by the casinos. You would think a man as skilled and effective as Tom Carver, the CRDA executive director, would understand that, with three new mega-casinos, he’s going to get more revenue to invest in CRDA programs. Maybe he’s looking out even further and expecting another massive windfall from any casino(s) that would be developed at Bader Field. I don’t know, because things are moving so fast.

Another bad sign is a bill introduced into the legislature by Senator Jim Whelan that would take Bader Field out of the hands of the city and give it to the CRDA. Now those who remember “Atlantic City Mayor” Jim Whelan may recall that every time someone wanted to take something from the city, he went ballistic. I can’t imagine he would sit still for something so egregious during his term. So what’s the reason he’s proposing this bill? I’m not saying the current administration is capable of running a bidding process and ensuring its transparency. Far from it. This administration is probably the worst we’ve seen in many years, continuing, as it has, the ties to disgraced and convicted former City Council President Craig Callaway.

What I’m saying is, there is no rush! Back off on development of Bader Field for at least five years. If the land is so valuable now, it should be that much more valuable in five years. In five years, we’ll have a much better handle on the Atlantic City market vis-à-vis regional competition. We’ll know more about the economy. And at least two of the new mega-casinos should be open, giving us a better idea of how capable the AC market is at absorbing such a massive increase in supply.

I’m always suspicious about development deals involving city government. Callaway was taking bribes related to the development of Bader Field. That alone should be enough to delay any development. Proponents of Bader Field development say the city will use the revenue for property tax relief. Won’t the new Revel, Pinnacle and MGM projects produce enough new taxes to do that on their own? Let the citizens of Atlantic City sort out our hideous government. Let politicians five years from now begin to think about how Bader Field will be developed. Let’s make sure the process is well thought out and completely transparent.

That’s not the case now. Who is pushing the involvement of the CRDA rather than the city? Why is a former mayor so willing to usurp the authority of the city? And why isn’t anyone thinking of the obvious problems that development of Bader Field would create? Let’s stop. And think.

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Roger Gros   Wed, May 23, 2007

By Frank Legato   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Roger Gros   Tue, May 22, 2007

By Frank Legato   Thu, Mar 01, 2007

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Feb 02, 2010

Convention Center:  Feb 3-7 is the International Power Boat Show. Feb. 20 Spirit Unlimited Cheerleading Competition. February 26th to 28th is the Atlantic City Classic Car Show & Auction.

Boardwalk Hall: February 27 Show of Shows, featuring the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association, 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. in Boardwalk Halls arena. 

February 25 9th Annual Men R Cookin at Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club to benefit Boys & Girls Club

It's the Second Annual Atlantic City Restaurant Week from February 28th to March 6th.  70 restaurants with prefix menu's at prefix prices... mark your calendar NOW!

For more information go to http://www.acrestaurantweek.com/

January 30 2010 Casino Connection Magazine update with Lisa Johnson on NBC 40

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 29, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

By NBC 40 WMGM   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Late last month the founder  of Beal Bank, who is also known as a high-stakes poker player, made a surprise move by joining billionaire Carl Icahn in a new bid for Trump Entertainment. Beal hopes to convert his multimillion-dollar loan into equity in the company.

“Trump jumped ship at the last minute,” Icahn attorney Edward Weisfelner said in court, “and left Mr. Beal standing at the altar.”

see entire article here:  http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/january-2010/article/games-the-same-but-players-have-changed

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Dec 02, 2009

http://casinoconnectionac.com/issue/november-2009/article/ac-outlets-the-walk-your-holiday-headquarters

By NBC 40 WMGM   Wed, Sep 30, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

Atlantic City bids goodbye to a favorite adopted son, the late Arturo Gatti, September 19 at Bally’s. A professional card has been established, with fights being sandwiched around highlight presentations, speeches and tributes to the most prolific fighter in Atlantic City history.

Gatti, based first in Montreal and then in Jersey City, became the only sure thing in a town known for gambling. Twice a year, he’d fill up Boardwalk Hall against any opponent, and his loyal fan base substantially spiked the drop in nearby casinos. Gatti was responsible for nine consecutive sellouts here, including the second and third bout of his famed trilogy against Micky Ward, and a matchup with Floyd Mayweather that established a non-heavyweight record for gross sales receipts in Atlantic City.

Gatti’s appearance was the brainchild of Bally’s then-President Ken Condon.

“We should have a special day for Arturo,” Condon said while Gatti was still alive. “I’d be the first to put that together.”

The tribute is appropriate. While earning about $20 million for himself, Gatti performed some other memorable deeds. He stayed with one promoter, Main Events, for his entire 16-year career. That’s now unheard of. He waged several Fights of the Year in boxing and created high paydays for Ward, Ivan Robinson, Mayweather, the gaming industry and HBO.

Gatti died under mysterious circumstances July 11 in Brazil (authorities first believed he was murdered by his wife, then changed the determination to suicide, which the boxing community does not believe).

He is sorely missed, not only for the exciting boxing, but for his effervescent, approachable personality. Gatti could laugh at himself, display respect for his opponent and make good copy for the media. He reminded those around him why they loved boxing.

Casino Connection salutes the athlete who symbolized the boxing-gaming marriage and carried a presence we may never see again.

By NBC 40 WMGM   Tue, Sep 22, 2009

By NBC 40 WMGM   Mon, Sep 21, 2009

Here is a link to the written article "Colony's Atlantic City Headache" on casinoconnectionac.com.

By NBC 40 WMGM   Fri, Sep 11, 2009

Don Marrandino named president of Harrah's Eastern Division Tides Story