By Roger Gros   Mon, Oct 02, 2006

There have been the inevitable comparisons between Atlantic City and Las Vegas since the Boardwalk town legalized gambling in 1976. Leaders in both cities downplay those comparisons (for different reasons), yet they continue to this day. So let’s put the myths, misperceptions and outright lies to rest. Side by side, Atlantic City and Las Vegas couldn’t be more different than the ocean and the desert. But then again, there is an uncanny similarity that will forever link the two gambling towns.

Back to the Future

Let’s start with the history of each resort. Atlantic City was really the first American working man’s resort. Built in 1854 specifically for day-trippers from Philadelphia (sometimes called “shoobies” because early train travelers to Atlantic City used to bring their lunch on the train in a shoe box), Atlantic City was a “wide open” town for most of its history… anything went! It was the original “what happens here, stays here” city. Rooming houses, restaurants, hotels, excursions, and later, motels, were the main activity for many of the city’s businessmen.

Gambling? While the town wasn’t built on gambling, the activity was certainly a part of the Atlantic City xperience. Even the most naïve visitor could find the game of his choice. From numbers to sports betting, from craps to blackjack, the back rooms of some of the resort’s most famous bars and restaurants hosted betting facilities with the complete knowledge of the political hierarchy (and with a weekly envelope guaranteeing the smooth operation of gaming). Prostitution was another well-established vice for many years, with brothels lining Westminster Avenue (Snake Alley) between New York and Kentucky avenues.

Las Vegas was a sleepy stop on a desert marsh in the 1800s. In the early 20th century, the arrival of the railroad and the sale of parcels of the largest ranch, the Clark ranch, in 1905 established an actual town that included all the vices already present in Atlantic City, including gambling. But in 1910, gambling was prohibited in Nevada, and the roulette wheels stopped—for about three weeks, after which illegal gambling, much like Atlantic City, began to thrive.

In 1931, the Nevada legislature legalized gambling and Downtown Las Vegas boomed with an influx of workers laboring on the nearby Boulder Dam. Strip development began in the mid 1940s, and continues unabated to this day. But one thing is for sure. Las Vegas would never have become what it is today without the gaming industry.

But the same could be said for today’s Atlantic City. When even illegal gambling was ended in the 1950s after the U.S. Congress investigated the activity, Atlantic City went into a steep decline. This seemed to culminate with disastrous publicity at the Democratic National Convention in 1964. With vast stretches of the city in ruin, the legalization of gambling in 1976 began a renaissance that continues to this day.

Gambling Natures

 The comparison between the two towns began when gambling was legalized in Atlantic City. Since it was the first jurisdiction outside of Nevada to host casinos, comparing the two was a natural, if not always fair, measure. Las Vegas panicked when gambling came to the East Coast. Investment money dried up (even the somewhat-questionable union pension plans looked elsewhere).

Scenes of long lines on the Boardwalk to get into the one or two casinos turned the attention of Las Vegas casino operators eastward. Harrah’s, Steve Wynn’s Golden Nugget, the owners of the Las Vegas Tropicana, the slot machine maker Bally Manufacturing and others scouted out the Boardwalk for prime locations.

The Las Vegas malaise would last 10 years, until Wynn returned from Atlantic City with his pockets stuffed with cash to build the Mirage, the development that launched the Strip into the stratosphere of gambling resort destinations.

In Atlantic City, meanwhile, the burst of gaming development leveled off in the mid 1980s. Needlessly strict regulation combined with a flat economy and the launch of other American gaming jurisdictions served to deflate the Boardwalk bubble. While massive additions to existing properties have transformed the city, there are still just 12 casinos in Atlantic City, the same number as when the Showboat opened in 1985.

Custom Visitors

 One might think that one gambler is much like another gambler, but the market for Las Vegas and Atlantic City is a bit different.

Some call Atlantic City the largest “locals” market in America, when “local” is defined by a drive time of two hours or less. Because the commute to Atlantic City is so short, the average stay is somewhere around eight hours. Even with the addition of more hotel rooms, the vast majority of visitors are still day-trippers, coming down for gambling or entertainment and going home on the same day.

That’s kind of difficult in Las Vegas. The closest major metropolitan area is Los Angeles, a good five-hour drive, without traffic. Still, more than a quarter of Las Vegas visitors come from this market, with the rest flying in.

McCarran International Airport is one of the busiest in the country, with millions of passengers passing through each day. A second airport in Jean, Nevada, serving the growing international market, is in the planning stages and won’t open until at least 2017, so McCarran will have to suffice until then.

Because of this dependence on air travel, Las Vegas is particularly vulnerable to any threat to airlines, such as terrorism, increased fares or airline economic woes.

But Las Vegas also has a strong “locals” market, with a string of casinos owned by Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and others that simply exist to serve people who live in Las Vegas. These “neighborhood” casinos also include some retail and other entertainment options, such as movie theaters.

Atlantic City, meanwhile, is trying to extend the average stay by appealing to the “tour-and-travel” customer who pays for a hotel room during off-peak times, who may not be such a strong gambler. More hotel rooms are still needed in Atlantic City to serve this market effectively.

Much of this is driven by the Atlantic City International Airport. While the “chicken-and-egg” dilemma remains (Do you build more rooms and then get more schedules flights or vice versa?), the airport remains one of the most convenient ways to travel to and from Atlantic City.

Entertaining Options

 Superstar entertainers have been a part of both Las Vegas and Atlantic City for decades. Even before legalized gaming came along, Atlantic City played host to dozens of the top entertainers of their times: Abbott and Costello, the John Phillips Sousa Orchestra, the Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles…. They all appeared in Atlantic City.

Las Vegas started a little later but caught up quickly. Sinatra was a mainstay of Vegas (in fact, a street behind the Las Vegas Strip is now named for him, as well as streets named for Dean Martin, Paul Anka, Jerry Lewis and others). Since the 1950s, performers have made Las Vegas a stop, or even their home. But the differences in customers dictate a different style of entertainment. In Vegas, casinos can offer production shows, some extremely lavish (and very expensive), with theaters built specifically for the shows. They can do this because Las Vegas visitors don’t come as frequently as they do in Atlantic City, allowing casinos to create shows that are seen once or twice.

Superstar entertainers have also claimed a regular spot in Las Vegas. Celine Dion and Elton John share a theater at Caesars Palace (with Bette Midler rumored to follow). Barry Manilow rules at the Las Vegas Hilton. Names such as Rita Rudner, Penn & Teller, Gladys Knight, Toni Braxton and others headline showrooms in other casinos.

Atlantic City can’t offer production shows because of the repetition factor. Even regular superstars would eventually loose their luster.

But Atlantic City casinos offer stand-alone shows by a wide range of entertainers from the Foo Fighters and Nick Lachey to Tony Bennett and Engelbert Humperdinck. And when you throw in the Boardwalk Hall, with Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen and others, the excitement is palpable.

Image-Conscious

 They say image is everything, and if that’s the case, well, Atlantic City has some work to do. But it’s getting better. It was only 10 years ago when the city by the sea was viewed as a day-trip destination for senior citizens. During the same period, Las Vegas had re-invented itself with new high-end and hip resorts like Hard Rock, Mandalay Bay, the Venetian, Bellagio and more.

But that all began to change in the early 2000s. The sale of the “H-Tract” to Steve Wynn promised a new day for Atlantic City. When Wynn sold his company to MGM, creating MGM Mirage, the deal he had struck with Boyd Gaming to build a casino resort did not change. But the deal would change Atlantic City.

Even before the Borgata opened in July 2003, existing casinos realized that there were opportunities to grow their companies into markets previously untouched. Borgata execs called them Atlantic City “rejecters,” and the new resort was successful in penetrating that strata.

Entertainment has also helped to reshape the image of Atlantic City. When all the major artists consider Atlantic City (and the now-respected Boardwalk Hall) a “must-stop” on any tour, it makes a difference.

But there still are bumps in the road. It seems every misstep Atlantic City makes is magnified. For example, in 2000, when negotiating to buy the land and build three casinos in the Marina district, Wynn designated a route for a road project that would connect to the Atlantic City Expressway. He needed nine existing homes, and was able to buy five of them at above-market prices. The other four refused to sell, and it precipitated a nasty battle, covered ad nauseum by the Northeast media.

At the same time, Las Vegas was widening a highway leading to the burgeoning northwest part of the city, requiring the condemnation of thousands of homes and businesses. This was accomplished with barely a peep out of the Las Vegas media, and was completely ignored by the West Coast press.

If there were a roving band of youths accosting tourists on the Boardwalk, it would generate headlines in all the newspapers and TV news shows. But when the same happened on the Las Vegas Strip, it barely caused a blip on the tourism radar.

On the Job

A job in a casino is the same everywhere, right? Not necessarily.

In Las Vegas, to work in a casino, you only need to be issued a “sheriff’s card,” which essentially tells the casino that you have no criminal record. The cost to the employee is $70, which includes a “work card,” entitling the person to be employed in Clark County.

In Atlantic City, the Casino Control Commission must issue a casino employee license (#2 license) with an initial application fee of $350. It must be renewed for five years at a cost of $250.

The job itself is similar. The games are essentially the same and the machines are identical.

But there are differences. Take, for example, the decision last month by Steve Wynn to include floor supervisors and boxmen in the dealer tip pool at his Wynn Las Vegas property. It seems dealers at Wynn were far out-earning their supervisors ($100,000 versus $60,000, by some accounts), so Wynn wanted to level the playing field as well as change the corporate culture and reorganize the way the casino floor is run. In the worst case, dealers would lose up to 20 percent of their annual salaries.

Dealers weren’t happy, but in the end, they agreed to the changes because there was nothing else they could do (and some were convinced that it would create more tips in the long run).

In Atlantic City, that couldn’t happen, since the Casino Control Act specifically states that supervisors on up cannot share or solicit tips.

Conventional Wisdom

When the Atlantic City Convention Center debuted in the mid 1990s, it was a milestone for a city that had always leaned on conventions to fill its hotel rooms in the off season. The 500,000-square-foot facility is generally full during the shoulder periods of winter, fall and spring, but is usually empty during the summer since the demand for hotel rooms ramps up so high during that period.

Las Vegas uses conventions in the same manner, but has many more hotel rooms to fill, even during its busy periods in the spring and fall. In addition to the 1.5 million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center, two private facilities with at least 1 million square feet are also operating: the Sands Expo Center at the Venetian and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The result is a massive amount of floor space available for conventions and meetings, and that’s not even counting the larger casinos like MGM, Bellagio, Mirage, Wynn, Riviera and others that also have substantial meeting space.

MGM Mirage’s rumored Atlantic City facility at Renaissance Pointe is supposed to have more than the usual amount of meeting space, so maybe this is another road that Atlantic City will follow.

Traffic Jams

Now here’s an area where Atlantic City is catching up to Las Vegas. Traffic is abysmal in both locations.

In Las Vegas, the explosive growth has left behind the road system. For three hours every morning and afternoon, the road system is virtually gridlocked. Holiday weekends, the locals know to avoid the highways and the Strip. And public transportation is virtually non-existent. Yes, there is a bus system, but counting on a bus to arrive on schedule and take you to your destination in a reasonable amount of time is gambling.

Much the same can be said for Atlantic City, except for the length of the rush hour. The road systems have not kept pace with community growth. Travel time across the region has steadily increased. And the influx of the summer visitors only makes it worse.

Concluding Assumptions

As most observers note, it’s not fair to compare Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The populations vary widely (approximately 250,000 in the Atlantic City region versus 1.7 million in Las Vegas); the climate is completely different (Northeast seacoast versus Southwest desert); the locations are completely diverse (drive-in versus fly-in); the convention business is regional rather than national; and many other points too detailed to note in this feature.

So no, it’s not fair to make the comparison, but that won’t stop all the pundits from mentioning Las Vegas every time "Atlantic City" crosses their lips. That’s why it’s important to realize that while Atlantic City will never be Las Vegas, the converse is also true. Las Vegas will never be Atlantic City.

By Roger Gros   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

The candidates for the U.S. House are:

Frank LoBiondo Republican

Incumbent LoBiondo took office in January 1995 and has been re-elected in every election since then. LoBiondo is a member of the House Armed Services Committee where he serves on the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. Frank is also a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, serving as chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee and as a member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Aviation. Prior to joining the House, he served for six years in the New Jersey Assembly.

Viola Thomas-Hughes Democrat

Thomas-Hughes was elected as a committeewoman for the township of Fairfield in 1994, serving until 1998. She served as deputy mayor from 1999 to 2003, and currently serves as committeewoman. She is employed as a program development specialist by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

The candidates for the U.S. Senate are:

 Robert Menendez Democrat

Democratic incumbent Menendez was appointed to the Senate earlier this year when Gov. Jon Corzine appointed him to the seat Corzine was vacating. Prior to joining the U.S. Senate, Menendez was elected to the House in 1992 and rose to the third-highest ranking Democrat before being appointed to the Senate. In 2002 he was elected as the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, becoming the highest-ranking Hispanic in congressional history. He previously served as the vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus and has led key task forces on education and homeland security. In the Senate, he serves on the Senate Committees on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; and Budget.

Tom Kean Republican

Republican challenger Tom Kean is the son of former Gov. Tom Kean. He was elected to the Assembly in 2001, serving one term, and was elected to the state Senate in 2003. He became the deputy minority whip that year and was chosen as minority whip in 2004. He serves on the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens as well as the Judiciary committees and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools.

What is your view on the importance of the gaming industry to New Jersey?

 LoBiondo: The gaming industry in Atlantic City is critical to New Jersey’s economy and the livelihood of over 45,000 employees. That is why we need to ensure we work together to continue to promote Atlantic City as the state’s single gaming destination and block efforts by those in Trenton who seek to undermine Atlantic City’s tremendous growth by pushing for video lottery terminals in the Meadowlands.

Thomas-Hughes: The revenues that are derived from the gaming industry in Atlantic City, whether from taxes, employee payrolls, or collateral spending, are an integral part of the funds needed to help this state meet its financial obligations. Every area of New Jersey benefits, as the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has contributed to projects throughout the state, not just in Atlantic City and Atlantic County.

Menendez: The importance of the gaming industry to New Jersey cannot be underestimated. The gaming industry has made Atlantic City the largest visitor destination in New Jersey, generating about one-third of all tourism revenue in the state. And casinos have funneled $7 billion and 55,000 jobs back into Atlantic City's economy. Plus, the $300 million casinos have generated in annual tax revenue has funded many of the programs that New Jersey citizens have come to depend on.

When it comes to federal challenges to gaming, how would you fight for casino employees on Capitol Hill?

L: As one of the founders and co-chairs of the Congressional Gaming Caucus, I work to educate fellow members and congressional leadership on issues affecting the gaming industry and the benefits of legalized gaming. Our caucus has been very successful in beating back several efforts to federally regulate gaming and unfairly tax employees. I am also co-chair of the Republican Labor Caucus, a group dedicated to advancing an agenda to benefit working families. Some of our recent achievements include passing the first minimum wage increase in nearly a decade and enacting a pension reform bill to help protect workers’ pensions.

T-H: Gaming was voted for by the residents of New Jersey, as “states’ rights” allowed us to do. Any challenges from the federal government would have to be studied to ascertain what impact they would have on casino employees and state residents. Casino employees deserve a representative who will fight for their rights the same as the rights of all workers in the state.

M: I have always been a strong advocate for New Jersey’s working families, fighting to preserve job security and protections in the workplace, as well as fighting to increase the minimum wage so that all working families can earn a livable wage. In addition, I have reviewed federal gaming legislation with an eye toward the impact it will have on casino workers and the economy of Atlantic City and the state of New Jersey. That’s why I support and voted for the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which would protect New Jersey’s casino gambling industry from unregulated internet gambling.

Do you favor a federal study on internet gambling? Do you believe it can be controlled, regulated and taxed?

L: I am a cosponsor of legislation that would establish a commission to study whether internet gaming can be properly controlled. With technology continuing to improve I believe it is prudent for the government to re-evaluate its current ban on internet gaming.

T-H: Such a statement about internet gambling gives no information about what that study would be; every study must be looked at individually. I have profound reservations about our ability to control, regulate and/or tax internet gambling. We already have problems protecting information that is supposed to be private and not become public. For example, note the large numbers of identity thefts we are dealing with. There seem to be hackers able to beat or circumvent any system.

M: I voted to prohibit internet gambling because it is unregulated, and I believe it creates an un-level playing field for New Jersey’s casino industry. I will continue to work to see that internet gambling doesn’t harm New Jersey’s industry, whether that be a study or ban.

Several windmills have recently been installed in Atlantic City to garner wind power. Do you favor an expansion of that form of power and federal subsidies to encourage it?

L: I am a strong proponent of alternative sources of energy including wind and solar power and a cosponsor of legislation to increase federal government incentives to develop renewable energy. The key to ending our addiction to foreign oil is to develop renewable sources of energy and to reduce our consumption by increasing automobile fuel efficiency standards.

T-H: I do favor it and I would strongly support federal subsidies to encourage any form of renewable sources of energy. We have waited too many years for our government to realize that fossil fuels are not only finite, but are damaging to our planet. We must move away from our reliance on oil that has for decades driven our foreign policy and led us into confrontations in the Middle East.

M: Yes. It is absolutely essential that we get more of our power from renewable sources and currently the most economical form of renewable power generation is wind. When it comes to offshore wind, however, we also must be mindful of all the possible impacts. In April, the Governor's blue ribbon panel on offshore wind released a report recommending a limited test project to see how a wind farm would affect both the environment and tourism. I endorse this process as the best way to increase the production of renewable energy while at the same time ensuring offshore wind does not hurt tourism.

There have been some proposals to allow drilling for oil off the East Coast, similar to regions along the Gulf Coast and off California. Do you favor that in any manner?

L: I remain strongly opposed to any efforts to drill of the coast of New Jersey. I have sponsored legislation to impose a permanent ban on the practice and have consistently voted against any measure that would endanger our pristine coastline and tourist-based economy.

T-H: We must continue to refuse to allow oil drilling anywhere on the East Coast, whether in New Jersey or states further south. Due to the water’s northward drift, a major spill off Georgia or South Carolina could cause major damage to our beaches, which are an integral part of not only the finances of our state but also the enjoyment of our citizens.

M: No. I am deeply committed to protecting New Jersey’s shores from oil drilling off our coast. Our shoreline is vitally important to the state’s economy and a critical wildlife habitat. That is why I recently introduced the COAST Anti-Drilling Act, which would permanently ban oil and gas drilling in the North Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. It is also why, along with Senator Lautenberg, I put a hold on legislation allowing drilling off the Florida coast to ensure that New Jersey’s shores are protected from drilling for many years to come. This issue is too important for a temporary solution.

Have you accepted contributions from gaming companies or unions connected with the gaming industry?

L: I am extremely proud of the very strong support I have received from gaming industry employees throughout my entire time in Congress and I will continue to be a strong advocate for them in Washington.

T-H: I have accepted donations from neither.

M: Yes.

Atlantic City officials want to close Bader Field when the current FAA contract expires next year. Are you in favor of that or would you prefer to see it remain open?

L: After a nearly 20-year effort, Atlantic City officials were successful in their efforts to close Bader Field. When the airport closes in the next few months, I look forward to hearing about the plans state and local officials have to redevelop the area.

T-H: I would have to consider what is proposed to take its place, as well as what it is costing to operate and whether it makes or loses money. We have an excellent airport, the Atlantic City Airport, that is capable of handling any traffic to the Atlantic City area, and which I would like to see expand flights and destinations.

M: For both the sake of safety and efficiency I think federal funds would be better spent improving services at Atlantic City International Airport rather than keeping Bader Field open.

Where do you stand on proposals in which the state of New Jersey would lease the Atlantic City Expressway and other state highways to private companies for large payments?

L: I am concerned by state efforts to lease public roadways to private companies. Leasing a highway to a private entity makes it ineligible for federal funding. Therefore, the state must ensure that the potential lessee makes ongoing improvements to the roadway to reduce congestion, as well as preserve employee protections and keep toll rates in check.

T-H: Some states and even cities have sold or leased toll roads to private companies, but I could not make that decision without having information about the numbers involved. I am not comfortable selling off our infrastructure without guarantees that the companies leasing or buying are willing to pay an equitable amount. There should also be guarantees that they will be adequately maintained and that rates will not be increased arbitrarily.

M: This is obviously an issue for state government. I do believe, however, that we must ensure these roads remain safe, clean, have adequate signage, and that drivers are not gouged by excessive tolls. That’s why I have and will continue to fight to bring additional highway funding back to New Jersey. Earlier this year, for example, I secured $150 million in highway funds that the administration had threatened to withhold from New Jersey.

New Jerseyans get back just 55 cents of every dollar they send to Washington. What would you do to get more of our money back in this state?

L: I continue to work hard to increase the level of federal investment in southern New Jersey to improve our infrastructure and spur economic development. Since my first election to Congress I have:

• secured over $327 million in federal earmarked funding for the 2nd District, including over $143 million in beach replenishments, over $60 million in highway improvement funding, and over $30 million in economic development projects;

• helped to secure over $150 million in direct federal grants to municipalities and other nonprofits in the 2nd District; and

 • used my position as the senior New Jersey member on the House Transportation Committee to improve the highway and transit formula to ensure the state receives more funding. The recent highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) included a 30 percent increase in highway funds for the state, and a 50 percent increase in transit funds.

T-H: The federal government has mandated programs—No Child Left Behind, Medicaid, etc.—without funding them. We are considered a “Blue State;” we have two Democratic Senators and a majority of Democratic Representatives. Unfortunately, “pork barrel” benefits and favors have gone overwhelmingly to “Red States,” those under Republican control. In other words, decisions are made not on need but for political reasons, just as the New York metropolitan area had 40 percent cuts in funding for Homeland Security, while some Western states received large increases. When we change the makeup and the mindset in Washington we can begin to fund those mandates and award moneys based on need, fairly and without prejudice.

M: As a former congressman and now as New Jersey’s senator, I have consistently fought to increase New Jersey’s share of federal funding. Immediately after 9/11, I helped secure urgent funding to shore up emergency response and communications for New Jersey communities. I have sponsored legislation to base homeland security grants on risk so that New Jersey gets its fair share of funding based on the risks and threats we face. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, I also fought to secure additional funding for New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure—from highways, to transit, to ferries, to Amtrak and other vital investments.

Pay-to-play is a huge issue in New Jersey. Is there anything that can be accomplished at the federal level to control this activity? How would you, as a member of Congress, influence this issue?

L: I am a strong proponent of pay-to-play reform. During last year’s congressional debate on the highway bill, I supported an effort to allow states to enact such reforms without triggering federal contracting rules which would result in the loss of federal highway funding.

T-H: We hear much about pay-to-play, but it is not just a New Jersey issue; it is prevalent throughout the country. It has become a way of doing business, of rewarding those who are cronies or colleagues, although it goes far beyond that. We need legislation on the federal level, not just rules but also enforcement with punishment that assures the law is not worth breaking. As a member of Congress I would support and even introduce such legislation and work to implement it.

M: Pay-to-play reform is essential to the integrity of state government. I applaud the state’s efforts in this regard. Unfortunately, federal law prohibits the enforcement of many of our sensible reforms at the state level in regards to federal funds. That is unacceptable, so I have offered amendments and co-sponsored a bill to correct this problem and ensure pay-to-play is not allowed in New Jersey no matter what government entity supplied the funding.

Lobbying reform is at the top of some agendas. Do you believe the system is broken and must be fixed, or was the Jack Abramoff case just an anomaly?

L: I am a strong proponent of lobbying reform. I voted in favor of legislation that passed the House of Representatives earlier this year which would significantly reduce the influence of lobbyists, eliminate lobbyist-funded trips and impose fines and jail time to those who break the rules.

T-H: I do believe that the system is broken and we must pass legislation to check the abuses. Jack Abramoff was not just an anomaly, but was actually a symptom of a lobbying system out of control. Some of the most crucial bills recently passed in Congress have been virtually written by lobbyists for the energy, pharmaceutical, insurance and banking interests. When their financial wellbeing comes first, who is lobbying for the people?

M: The system is definitely broken. Some reforms have been made, but to fix the system I think we need a complete gift ban and harsh mandatory minimum penalties must be imposed for offenses of public corruption. We need to send a message that if our public officials break the law they must pay a steep price. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress are not serious about reform and have only passed minor changes when an overhaul is needed.

Property taxes are straining the budget of every New Jersey homeowner. Do you believe it is important to address this issue and is there anything that you, as a member of Congress, can do?

L: The property tax system in New Jersey is in need of fundamental reform. I encourage the governor and state legislature to work together to provide meaningful reform and relief to New Jersey families.

T-H: Every homeowner in this state is aware of the increases in taxes and knows that businesses and households have to live within their means if they are to survive, and so must the state. We have obligations, which must be met, including to longtime employees, although we need to analyze and question practices that can be abused. This is a major issue, which we can no longer pass off to some time in the future. As mentioned earlier, unfunded mandates from Washington have added to the costs of operating our state, whether schools, hospitals, or social services. As a member of Congress I will make a priority of New Jersey’s needs to be fully funded.

M: Property taxes are clearly an incredibly important issue in New Jersey. I have worked to expand assistance at the federal level to help offset the cost of state and local property taxes. I introduced the Non-itemizer Real Property Tax Deduction Act to provide taxpayers with an additional standard deduction of up to $1,000 to help ease the burden of local property taxes.

By Felicia Lowenstein   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

It’s fall, the season where we trade in our flip-flops for sensible shoes. And while autumn does have its share of beautiful beach days, there are plenty of other choices, from events and festivals to quaint town strolls. So get out your walking shoes, your map and your sense of adventure, and get ready to see all that fall in South Jersey has to offer.

The first stop is historic Cape May for Victorian Week starting Friday, October 6. This year marks the 34th annual celebration, hailed as a “Top 100 Event in North America.” Highlights of the week include authentic Victorian feasts, a chocolate fantasy buffet, beer and wine tastings, boat tours, murder mystery dinners, brass band concerts, workshops, lectures, tours and glass blowing demonstrations. There is also a Vintage Dance Weekend, where you can learn the popular ballroom dances of the mid- and late-19th century.

Cost and times vary per event. For more information, call the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) at 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

Up next is Absecon’s 6th Annual Pedal-Paddle Run scheduled for Saturday, October 7. This is a chance to see some of the most panoramic views in the area, according to founder and past president Bill Parker. “Absecon is an old clamming town with a lot of history,” he explained. “My family and I would go out kayaking and we’d see the boats and the birds, and then the Borgata, Harrah’s and Brigantine further down. This race takes you away from the city where you still have these magnificent views.”

The popular community triathlon incorporates kayaking, running and bicycling through historic Absecon. Participants can enter as individuals or teams and kayaks are available for rental. There is a “Funniest Division,” where athletes dress as everything from superheroes to nuns. If you just want to watch, there are Atlantic City Jitneys that take you from the bay to the park.

Proceeds benefit the Absecon Education Foundation, and the event is made possible by Gold Sponsor Pam Sterns of ReMax Atlantic. For more information, visit www.parkerandpartners.com or register at www.active.com.

Also on October 7, it’s on to Ocean City for the Fall Block Party. The block party brings out tables of juried crafters with everything from painted glass and furniture to ceramics, wearable art, fine art and more. There also will be live music, food and free pony rides. Free parking is available at the Transportation Center and the Ocean City Airport at 26th and Bay, and at Shelter Road. Free bus transportation will be provided from these locations.

The Block Party is part of a weekend-long Indian Summer Celebration in Ocean City. Throughout the weekend, vendors will display their wares in a boardwalk sidewalk sale. There will also be a Seafood Fest at the Music Pier, featuring such delicacies as chowders, shrimp, clams and more. For more information, or a complete schedule of activities, call 609-525-9300.

It wouldn’t be October without Oktoberfest, and the Towne of Historic Smithville throws one of the most festive, scheduled this year for Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8. This free event draws crowds who come out for the food and entertainment. There will be an international food court featuring everything from German cuisine and beer to Greek food, Italian food and seafood. Over 100 crafters will be displaying their handmade wares for sale. There will also be children’s activities and train and carousel rides. Oktoberfest is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.smithvillenj.com.

If you’re feeling energetic, take the 7th Annual New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge, and visit 11 participating lighthouses throughout the state on the weekend of Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, including Atlantic City’s own Absecon Lighthouse at 31 S. Rhode Island Avenue.

Each participating site will have its own souvenir to commemorate the visit. Visitors accepting the challenge do not even have to go into the lighthouse. Admission fees vary at each location. Those participants presenting a complete set of souvenirs will receive a special "11 Points of Light Club" souvenir.

Lighthouses include Sandy Hook, Twin Lights, Sea Girt, Barnegat, Tucker’s Island, Absecon, Hereford Inlet, Cape May, East Point, Finns Point and Tinicum. As an added bonus, four lighthouses will be open an additional two hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday night: Sandy Hook, Absecon, Cape May and Tinicum. For more information, call 856-546-0514 or visit www.njlhs.org.

The 12th Annual Pine Barrens Jamboree is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, in Wells Mills County Park (Exit 69 off the Garden State Parkway). Enjoy “down home” music including country, bluegrass and folk, as well as regional food specialties, children’s games, face painting, canoe rentals and more. Smokey the Bear and the Jersey Devil make special appearances. For more information, call 609-971-3085.

If it’s a nice day, you’ll want to head up the Parkway to the Batsto Village Country Living Fair, held annually on the third Sunday in October. This year it’s on October 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is one of those old-time fairs with quilting, farm equipment, chain saw art, and the more traditional crafts, exhibits, music, old-time engines and cars, and pony rides. You can find more information at www.batstovillage.org.

Then head south to a birthplace of rock and roll and the Third Annual Wildwoods Fabulous ’50s Weekend, October 20-22. The event is a celebration of Wildwood’s unique role in music history. Philadelphia’s own film-TV-stage star James Darren will headline the Fabulous ’50s Rock and Roll Show on Saturday evening at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Also appearing will be Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Platters, Joey Dee and the Starlighters, and the Shangri-Las. The weekend includes a Jerry Blavat Record Hop and a free street fair with live entertainment. For more information, call 609-729-4000 or 1-888-729-0033 or visit www.fabfifties.com.

Halloween happenings near the end of the month offer lots of spooky fun. Visit Haunted Tuckerton Seaport on Saturday, October 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Stroll along the pitch-black boardwalk in search of the Jersey Devil or pirates long lost at sea and you’re sure to encounter some spirits.

However, the Haunted Seaport is not recommended for children under 6 years old. Younger children are encouraged to visit the Pumpkin Patch, where there will be kiddie activities. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, call (609) 296-8868.

The Towne of Historic Smithville offers a Haunted Train Ride on Fridays and Saturdays from October 13 through October 28. Rides begin at dark and run through 9 p.m. For those who visit on October 28, check out the Costume Pet Parade, or enter and bring your own favorite pooch or kitty!

Cape May is home to the New Jersey State Film Festival November 16 through 19. This event is dedicated to creative, and often groundbreaking, film/video works by New Jersey filmmakers. According to the event’s website, the festival “has grown from a three-day event attracting an audience of 500 in 2001 to a four-day film festival drawing thousands annually.”

Attendees screen over 50 shorts, eight features and two retrospectives, and can attend special events and parties and an all-day screenwriting workshop. There are opportunities to network with the directors, actors, producers, screenwriters and composers who are the makers of these films. For more information, call (609) 884-6700 or visit www.njstatefilmfestival.com.

One of the most peaceful events of the season is the annual Quiet Festival held in Ocean City, Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 19. It’s a weekend of quiet activities, most of which take place at Ocean City’s Art Center Atrium. Free to the public, this event includes such silent activities as seashell listening, performances by mimes, silent movies, and a storyteller who performs Indian hand tales. There is also a “Pet Your Pet” pageant and a feather-dropping competition. For more information, call 609-525-9300.

Then, to greet the holiday season, there is “Christmas in Stone Harbor, An Island Holiday,” a weekend of activities following Thanksgiving, November 24 through 26. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy the town’s Christmas parade, merchant sidewalk sales and other activities.

“Stone Harbor is a great place to stroll,” said Vicki Clark, executive director of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce. “We have so many beautiful and quaint towns in Cape May County.” Clark also suggests visiting Dune Drive in Avalon if you haven’t lately. “It’s been completely renovated,” she said. “There are now some beautiful upscale shops, galleries and restaurants.”

Clark acknowledges that South Jersey offers a lot in both events and visitor destinations. “The fall is such a great time to visit the area,” she said. “First, we have wonderful fall weather. The ocean tends to stay warm and the temperature is very pleasant. Then you have the added advantage that it’s not as crowded as our summer season and we move at a slower pace. Fall represents a nice alternative to traditional summer vacation.”

For more information about Cape May County events, visit www.capemaycountychamber.com. For Atlantic City area events, visit www.atlanticitynj.com.

South Jersey’s Best Foliage

 Each fall, Mother Nature drapes her foliage in Crayola-colored beauty. It’s so compelling that it even makes a drive up the Parkway a picturesque journey. And you needn’t venture far to see some glorious foliage. Following are some southern New Jersey favorites. But schedule your visits for early October when colors will be at their most vibrant. Due to a warm and wet summer, fall colors should begin to “pop” right around the first or second week in October in most places in the Northeast, according to the Foliage Network. For an up-to-the-minute report on what’s “blooming with color,” check out www.foliagenetwork.com.

Wharton State Forest Batsto Village and Crowley’s Landing

When considering the best places to view fall foliage, Wharton State Forest is the hands-down favorite. Located in parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties, the forest stretches over 110,000 acres. Two locations frequently cited within the forest are Batsto Village and Crowley’s Landing. “Crowley’s Landing is just outside the village and it’s absolutely beautiful,” said Mona Bawgus, consumer horticulturist for Rutgers Cooperative Extension. “The colors of the leaves reflect off of the water, making it picture-perfect. Then, there is the autumn festival in Batsto. It’s one of those old-fashioned festivals that has stayed virtually unchanged over the years. With the backdrop of autumn leaves, it’s just a nice day to walk around and get the feeling of fall.”

How to get there: Historic Batsto Village is located on Route 542 in the Wharton State Forest, Washington Township, Burlington County. It is about 25 miles west of Atlantic City. Simply take the Garden State Parkway North to Exit 50 (New Gretna), exit to Route 9 North. Turn left onto Route 542, and continue for 12 miles. Batsto Village is on the right.

Belleplain State Forest

The combination of young pine, oak and Atlantic white cedar makes Belleplain a beautiful place to visit in the fall. That’s because the colors of the deciduous leaves contrast with the evergreen of the pines. Established as a state forest in 1928, Belleplain is located in Woodbine, in both Cape May and Cumberland Counties. There are hiking and nature trails if you want to view the foliage on foot. Best of all, there are no entrance fees after Labor Day.

How to get there: Take the Garden State Parkway South to exit 17, to Routes 9 and 550 (or use exit 13 if traveling northbound). Highway signs will direct you to the forest.

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

 Sure, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for migratory birds, but it’s also a colorful place for fall foliage. You can drive or walk through the refuge on a self-guided tour. The roads and trails are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Stop at Lily Lake for a truly picturesque site. And if you’d like, bring along some birding books. You’re sure to see your feathered friends enjoying the foliage as well. For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe/.

How to get there: Take U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) west to Route 157. Turn right onto Route 157 North. This will merge onto Route 9 North. Follow Route 9 to Great Creek Road. Turn right and follow the road to the end.

By Frank Legato   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

It was never one of the Atlantic City’s “great” casino properties in the strict sense of the word. The Sands never had much market share. Its gross gaming revenues were usually near the bottom of the pack, if not at the very bottom. The facility was always second-rate, even when it opened as the Brighton in 1980. And its off-the-Boardwalk location continues to be an issue to this day, despite the construction of a “people-mover” in the mid 1990s that offered a ride from the boards to the Claridge and Sands.

The end of an era was heralded last month when Pinnacle Entertainment announced it had agreed to purchase the Sands from Atlantic Coast Entertainment Holdings Inc., the property’s holding company, and owner Carl Icahn for $250 million, plus about $20 million more for tax considerations and other services. Pinnacle will close the Sands in November and later demolish the property.

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The Sands has changed hands many times over the years, most recently when Icahn won a bidding war with Park Place Entertainment’s Arthur Goldberg in 2000. But Icahn had no more insight than previous Sands owners into how the off-Boardwalk property could be made profitable.

He tried virtually everything to turn the property around, to no avail. His troops, headed by property president George Toth, made the most promising moves toward a turnaround over the past year, using capital freed up when the casino emerged from bankruptcy protection to do a complete upgrade, including room renovations, new mid-level suites, upgrades to the adjacent Madison House Hotel (a “boutique” hotel owned by the Sands), and the addition of a center-casino bar and new high-end table area.

Toth and company positioned the Sands as an icon of its own hip past—or at least the past of its namesake Las Vegas casino (no corporate relation), including images of Rat-Packers around the property and of the swinging ’60s casino era. The gambler-friendly table rules of the past also were featured, with the Sands positioning itself as the “Players Place.”

Unfortunately, none of the trappings of the past could save the Sands from its present, or compensate for the casino’s main, fatal shortcomings of physical size—600 rooms amid 2,000-room megaresorts—and location, as the only Boardwalk casino with no Boardwalk frontage. (The Claridge next door shared this weakness only until Caesars Entertainment purchased it and made it part of Bally’s.)

For years, Icahn had attempted to buy the adjacent lot that was the former site of the Traymore Hotel, which would have enabled solutions to both problems—and for years, the former Caesars Entertainment had refused to sell, for the sole reason of denying the parcel to its rival. After Harrah’s Entertainment acquired Caesars last year, its own market dominance made retaining the Traymore parcel less important. Icahn was able to purchase it earlier this year through a subsidiary.

The Complete Property

The seven-acre Traymore tract was the site of the pre-casino era hotel that was one of the largest in the nation in the early part of the 20th century. The Traymore was imploded back in the early 1970s.

The combined 18-acre tract gives Pinnacle a chance to create something magnificent stretching from the Boardwalk to Pacific Avenue, and perhaps beyond. It also gives the Las Vegas-based operator a chance and reason to enter a market that it has long coveted. Earlier this year, it lost a bid to buy Aztar Corporation and its Tropicana property, but continued to examine Boardwalk opportunities.

“Atlantic City is one of the top U.S. gaming destinations, and we’re looking forward to being a part of the world-famous Boardwalk,” says Daniel R. Lee, Pinnacle’s chairman and chief executive officer. “This major new resort will be a key component in our plan to build a national network of gaming properties. It will also help extend our development pipeline and our company’s growth through 2010 and beyond. In connection with our longstanding interest in Atlantic City, we submitted our initial license application in New Jersey several months ago. The regulatory investigation is ongoing.”

Other bricks also have to fall into place, as well. An agreement has been made with the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to use the site of the current U.S. Post Office, across the street from the Sands on Pacific Avenue, as a parking lot. In addition, three small businesses still occupy the southeastern corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Pacific, which are still privately owned. Pinnacle would have to acquire them if it wanted to use that land. And still uncertain is the status of the Madison House.

While some hoped that Pinnacle would operate the Sands casino while building a new property alongside, Lee says it would not be feasible since the Sands stands at the center of the 18 acres and building around it would only delay the opening of what he describes as a “world-class” facility.

Lee says that the final numbers are not yet in, but he would expect that it would cost nearly $1.5 billion to build something that would compete with the Borgata, the current measuring stick for quality in Atlantic City.

“The success of recent Atlantic City developments has proven that customers in the Northeast respond positively to state-of-the-art gaming resort design and amenities,” Lee says. “While we regret the necessity of closing the Sands to create an exciting new resort, we look forward to working with gaming regulators, and state and local authorities on this project to create more jobs, tax revenues and other lasting benefits for the region."

Employee-Driven

 While the Sands had many negatives to overcome throughout the years, the one reason it was a successful casino was the employees. Sands President George Toth says the employees are the only reason it has survived for so long.

“The employees always totally supported the programs we put in place,” he says. “They are experts at customer service. They’ve forged relationships with our players that are deep and enduring. They really kept the property going.”

The Sands employees, meanwhile, were not surprised. Management had informed them during the summer that all programs and plans were on “hold” for the foreseeable future. And the rumor of Pinnacle’s interest in the Sands seems to have been the worst-kept secret in the city. Toth says last month’s announcement was “bittersweet.”

“They knew it was inevitable,” he says. “It was a day of mixed emotions. Employees are concerned about their friendships and the relationships they’ve built over the years.”

More than 2,000 workers will be unemployed when the hotel closes, but the state has set up “rapid-response teams” to come up with a job opportunity program.

“I’m going to be very aggressive about making sure these people are taken care of in the right way,” he says. “The state is in here now offering advice on resumes and re-training. Later this month, we’re bringing all the human resource directors in Atlantic City together to see if we can devise a way to get them jobs in other casinos. We’re going to do what’s right for our employees.”

In addition to assistance in finding new jobs, Pinnacle will give employees two weeks of severance pay for every year of service, and Atlantic Coast Entertainment Holdings will provide an additional week of severance pay for every year of service. Lee calls it “the most generous severance pay ever in the casino industry.”

Sands Salutations

 Despite its less-than-lofty status in Atlantic City, the Sands will always hold a special place in the hearts of the industry and its employees. Two years after opening, new owners leased the famous gaming brand name and the Brighton became the Sands.

Several years later, the property was taken over by a young and aggressive management team that included Bill Weidner, Brad Stone and Rob Goldstein (who now operate Las Vegas Sands, one of the industry’s most powerful international gaming companies). The Sands blazed new trails in employee relations, becoming the first casino to offer on-site child care, an employee health club and more.

Perhaps because it was so locationally challenged, the Sands developed special events and entertainment options that led the city. A contract with Frank Sinatra, who appeared at the Sands three times each year, made the Copa Room the hottest spot in town.

Tom Cantone, a crafty entertainment director who later moved to the Trump Organization and now serves at Foxwoods, brought in all the top acts of the 1980s.

Casino operations focused largely on table games, catering to high rollers invited to see the superstar entertainment. The volatile segment, however, made for a rough ride, revenue-wise, at times.

As competitors expanded in the late 1990s and introduced new amenities, the Sands began to lose some its luster. A casino expansion punched through to the second floor, but still could not increase revenue to any great extent.

Attempts to revive the Sands’ fortunes under Icahn were spotty at best. At one point, dozens of table games were removed to make room for more slot machines. Icahn went through half a dozen presidents under his regime, with Toth lasting the longest.

For Pinnacle, the entry into Atlantic City is part of its plan to become one of the major players in the gaming industry. Pinnacle is a successful operator in the South and the Midwest, where it owns Indiana’s Belterra and Louisiana’s L’Auberge, among others.

Sands employees have always felt a connection to the property and some would like to work for Pinnacle when the new resort opens. But Toth says that’s far into the future.

“It will be more than four years before that property opens,” he says. “Our employees have more immediate needs but if they want to return with Pinnacle, I wish them well.” For Toth, the resolution of the Sands dilemma is “disappointing” for him personally. He was hoping to lead a renovation and construction of a new Sands, but that’s not to be.

“I’m not worried about myself,” he says. “I’ll be fine. I’m focused on making these last two months a celebration of the Sands history and ensuring that our employees all end up with jobs.”

 SANDS EMPLOYEES: Immediate Resources

 The Sands and new owner Pinnacle Entertainment are offering generous severance and consideration for future jobs, but Sands employees obviously have more immediate needs for employment. The Sands has reached out to every other Atlantic City resort, but the state of New Jersey also has set up a “rapid response” system for former Sands employees who need immediate services. State Assemblyman James Whelan of Atlantic County recently sent a public letter to Sands employees listing the following resources:

New Jersey Department of Labor Hotline: 1-800-343-3919 Call this hotline to get answers to any questions about unemployment insurance, job placement or retraining, and layoff procedures.

New Jersey FamilyCare:

 NJ FamilyCare is a federal and state-funded health insurance program created to help New Jersey’s uninsured children and certain low-income parents and guardians to have affordable health coverage. For more information, contact 1-800-701-0710 or visit the website to complete an online application: www.njfamilycare.org

Prescription Drug Assistance: Partnership for Prescription Assistance

1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) • www.pparx.org

Rx 4 NJ

1-888-Rx FOR NJ (1-888-793-6765) • www.rx4nj.org

New Jersey Department of Human Service: 609-292-371 Call for information regarding food stamps, home energy assistance, and housing resources.

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   Tue, Mar 11, 2008

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 Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

 More Shows in October

October 1

The Temptations, Tropicana

“Gigantour” featuring Megadeth, House of Blues

October 1-6, 8-12

Steve Lippia, Hilton

October 6

Steve Winwood, Borgata

Cage Fury Fighting Champion II, Tropicana

Aaron Neville Quintet w/ Charles Neville, House of Blues

October 6-7

“That’s Italian,” Trump Marina

Tony Danza, Trump Plaza

October 7

Richard Jeni, Taj Mahal

October 8

Nick Lachey, Borgata

October 8-12

Gianni Russo, Resorts

October 12

Super Diamond, House of Blues

October 13-14

Paul Anka, Borgata

October 14

Natalie Cole, Caesars

Kelis, House of Blues

October 16

Bonnie Raitt, House of Blues

October 20

Gregg Allman Band, Borgata

October 20-21

Joan Rivers, Resorts

October 21

The Killers, Borgata

Peter Cetera, Harrah’s

Cyndi Lauper, House of Blues

John Pinette, Borgata

October 22

Heather Headley, House of Blues

October 25

Robert Schimmel, Trump Marina

October 22-26

Fifth Dimension, Hilton

October 27

Zappa Plays Zappa, Borgata

October 27-28

Johnny Mathis, Borgata

Bobby Vinton, Trump Plaza

October 28

Alice in Chains with Hurt, Borgata

Alice Cooper, House of Blues

October 29-31

Charo, Hilton

By Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Flute-playing wild-eyed Ian Anderson has been the manic jester behind the legendary rock band Jethro tull for over 40 years. With his signature stork-like stage stance (one leg propped on the other) and his fiery Scottish wit Anderson has become a rock icon. 

Though he has slowed down considerably in recent years (becoming a salmon farmer and country squire), he still makes the odd concert apperance.

This month Anderson will take the stage at Borgata's Music Box with a full orchestra as he performs orchestral versions of Jethro Tull songs. 

Anderson describes the evening as "a more ambient setting where all of the musicians can leave the theater with both eardrums and dignity in tact. We try for a vigorous rock feel without the frute-force volume."

Translating Tull's vast catalogue into classical versions does not seem that strange, since much of what the band produced has been melodic and complex. Fusing English folk music with jazz, blues and pop. Anderson has created a highly original sound. He is the master of many instruments, including acoustic and electric guitar, bouzouki, balalaika, savaphone, Hammond organ, hormonica and violin, among others. 

Expect to hear "Aqualung," "Thick as a Brick" and "Living in the Past" in a whole new light.

Ian Anderson plays orchestral Jethro Tull on October 7 at 9 p.m.. Tickets are $45 and $35.

By Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

It’s not a joke: The Rolling Stones may look as old as dirt but they sound as strong as they did in the 1970s.

Yes, the Stones can still rock, and all you need to prove that is one listen to the band’s new album, A Bigger Bang, the first Stones album since 1997’s unremarkable Bridges to Babylon and the band’s 24th album of original material.

Lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards seem to have put their differences aside to put together one of the band’s best efforts, an album on par with Exile on Main Street.

Atlantic City will be able to see what all of the buzz is about when the Stones perform songs from A Bigger Bang as well as the classics that made them legends when they perform at Boardwalk Hall October 27, presented by Borgata.

When it comes to rock, it simply doesn’t get any bigger than the Stones. Whether you admire Jagger’s frenetic stage presence, Richards’ undeniably catchy guitar riffs or Charlie Watts’ steady drumbeat, the Stones put classic in the term classic rock.

Recent setlists show the band performing "Start Me Up," "Shattered," "Beast of Burden," "Satisfaction," "Honky Tonk Woman," "Jumpin’ Jack Flash," "Brown Sugar," "You Can’t Always Get What You Want," "It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll" and some new tunes, too.

In other words, Boardwalk Hall will rock.

The Rolling Stones perform 8 p.m. October 27 in Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are $60, $99, $250 and $450.

By Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Here’s something you don’t see very often: a performer appearing at two different casinos on the same night.

Jerry Seinfeld will bring his New York-influenced comedy to the Hilton 8 p.m. October 7, followed by a show at Resorts at 11 p.m. the same night.

The television star has been able to solely concentrate on his stand-up routine now that his NBC series is off the air and he has a boatload of money.

If recent appearances tell the whole story, Seinfeld is back at the top of his game as far as stand-up goes. Constantly reworking his act to keep it fresh, there’s nothing to “yada yada” about here, but there’s plenty to laugh about.

Jerry Seinfeld performs 8 p.m. October 7 in the Hilton Grand Theater. Tickets are $169.50. Seinfeld also performs 11 p.m. October 7 in Resorts’ Superstar Theater. Tickets are $150.

By Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Not even hip surgery can keep Barry Manilow down. Despite the fact that the pop legend had a hip operation recently, Manilow vows he will be ready to perform October 14, when Resorts and the Hilton bring the legend to Boardwalk Hall.

Manilow will perform “An Evening of Music and Passion,” an expanded version of his “Music and Passion” show that he performs at the Las Vegas Hilton through an exclusive contract with the casino through 2008.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee has made a career in nearly every facet of music: performing, composing, arranging, producing and recording. Industry experts regard Manilow as the No. 1 adult contemporary artist of all time, with record sales exceeding 65 million worldwide.

The Grammy, Tony and Emmy winner began his career in New York, where he went to the Juilliard school of music and eventually became Bette Midler’s music director, arranger and pianist.

Branching out on his own, the release of “Mandy” in 1974 launched his amazing career and 25 consecutive Top 40 hits including “Even Now,” “This One’s for You,” “Weekend in New England,” “I Write the Songs” and “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again."

Four years later, five of Manilow’s albums were on the charts simultaneously—a record rivaled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis.

His other 38 Top 40 hits include “Copacabana,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Somewhere in the Night” and “I Made It Through the Rain.”

The 60-year-old singer, who has crossed over into television, theater and film, is hoping to cash in like Rod Stewart did with his Great American Songbook albums with his own take on classics, releasing The Greatest Songs of the Fifties in January and The Greatest Songs of the Sixties earlier this month.

This is his first Atlantic City appearance since 1997.

Barry Manilow performs 8 p.m. October 14 at Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are $75, $125, $175, $250 and $275.

By Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

If it’s uncompromising punk rock you’re looking for, look no further than the House of Blues, which brings in Social Distortion October 7.

Emerging from the Orange County, California, punk scene in the early 1980s, the band actually started in 1978, performing in underground punk clubs in major cities around the world, including London, New York and Los Angeles.

Led by Mike Ness, the band released its first single, “Mainliner/Playpen,” which didn’t really get much notice, but 1984’s “Another State of Mind,” one of the few punk videos to air on MTV, resulted in the band attracting some new fans. That was compounded four years later when the band released Prison Band, a rollicking album with a title cut about a wasted life that remains one of the greatest songs to ever come out of Orange County.

The band finally landed a major record deal with Epic, releasing Social Distortion in 1990, followed by Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, cementing the band’s legacy as punk rock royalty.

The band has released some other albums since, and keeps busy on the tour circuit, even landing some high-profile gigs on the Vans Warped Tour, while Ness also released some solo work.

Despite more band changes than anyone can keep track of, Social Distortion remains one of the most revered punk bands in the biz. Their last release was 2004’s Sex, Love and Rock ’n’ Roll.

Social Distortion performs 7 p.m. October 7 at the House of Blues at Showboat. Tickets are $25.

By Joseph Harrison   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

He’s a staple in Las Vegas, but Elton John will take a break from his shows at Caesars Palace to return to Boardwalk Hall October 7 after a three-year absence, to promote a new album.

The concert, presented by Harrah’s Entertainment, will undoubtedly sell out like his last concert did in 2003.

John is on tour to promote The Captain and the Kid, his new album released in September that is a sequel to his triple-platinum Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which was released in 1976 and recently was re-released in a deluxe edition.

One of the most successful and enigmatic artists of this generation, John was the biggest pop superstar of the early 1970s. With his knack at writing catchy, fun songs combined with his flamboyant stage shows, John became a music icon with a song arsenal that includes “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “The Bitch Is Back” and many others.

John’s life has had its ups and downs, including battles with drugs and alcohol and his resistance to admit publicly that he was homosexual. Eventually, he conquered his demons and now lets the music speak for itself as he continues to be one of the biggest musical draws in the country at 59 years old.

John has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 29 consecutive Top 40 hits. His musical accomplishments also cross into the theater and movie world, where the multiple Grammy winner won an Academy Award for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” for the Disney film The Lion King. He also helped write the Broadway smash Aida with collaborator Tim Rice.

Elton John performs 8 p.m. October 7 at Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are $65, $85, $125 and $175.

By David Schwartz   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

It’s not hard to remember “the old high school” in Atlantic City. Nearly everyone who was in town before the turn of the last century remembers the stately, sand-colored brick building sitting at Albany and Atlantic Avenues, its clock tower always imposing, but rarely telling the right time.

But the high school several generations of graduates knew was actually once the “new” high school, and was in fact the third high school built in the city.

During the early growth of Absecon Island students were taught in private homes or commercial buildings. In 1864 the first building recognized by the Board of Education as a public school was located on Pennsylvania and Arctic Avenues, and taught all grade levels.

The first high school building was built in 1895—relatively late, considering the city was incorporated over 40 years earlier. It stood at Illinois and Arctic Avenues. The builders apparently expected schooling to be much less popular with teenagers than it was, because within six years the school had to be abandoned, as there were simply too many students for the small space.

In 1901, the high school was moved to another new building, this one at Ohio and Pacific Avenues. This building proved more congenial to education—even after it no longer housed the city’s high school, it served as the Ohio Avenue School for decades. Though it has since been demolished, the neighboring administration building has been re-purposed for use as an office building.

High school students bade farewell to Ohio Avenue on September 17, 1923, when the new high school opened up, across from the then-brand-new memorial to those who had served in the First World War.

The school cost a total of over $1.75 million, and was widely regarded as a groundbreaking institution. It opened with a 1,000-seat auditorium and a 6,000-pipe organ, and had an array of dedicated classrooms, including rooms for science, sewing, music and mechanical drawing.

The high school opened in an optimistic time. Atlantic City was growing, and it seemed likely that it would continue to do so forever. The high school population certainly was expanding. In 1893, when high school classes lacked their own building, three teachers taught 147 students. By 1902, when the Ohio Avenue school opened, enrollment had topped 260. In 1915, enrollment passed 1,000 for the first time, and there were nearly 50 teachers on staff.

So, when the new high school opened in 1923, it was designed with further expansion in mind. Indeed, in that year enrollment passed 2,000, and continued to climb for the rest of the decade, hitting nearly 2,400 in 1930. By this time, over 100 teachers labored to instruct pupils at the school.

Over the years, tens of thousands of students passed through the halls of the high school, and it remained one of the area’s top educational facilities. The high school became more than an institution; it became a valued part of the community.

But as the city’s fortunes declined in the 1960s, it became apparent that Atlantic City High School was no longer the exemplar of secondary education it once had been. A 1967 study concluded that the building had already outlived its usefulness, and that, for the sake of students, parents and teachers, a new building should be built.

In some communities, this would have triggered an immediate drive to build a state-of-the-art new school building. Few Atlantic City residents—or ACHS students—would be surprised to learn that, in fact, nothing happened for nearly a quarter-century.

In 1990, residents approved the financing and construction of a new high school, which started rising on a piece of land on “Great Island,” which for most residents had simply been an empty stretch of marsh between Atlantic City and Pleasantville.

After four years of construction, the new school was ready, although, characteristically, it was not done in time for the start of the school year. Finally, on November 4, 1994, the new school opened its doors. This facility cost no less than $83 million to build. Even adjusted for inflation, this was a far cry from the $30,000 spent on the original Arctic Avenue school.

Since then, Atlantic City High School has continued to welcome students in its new facility. The “old” high school building was leveled to make way for a parking lot, and has stood for the past few years as a rather unimpressive site for travelers arriving via the Albany Avenue bridge.

Recently, a development group bought the old high school site and adjacent land, raising expectations that, in the future, the site will be home to a casino or related tourist facility.

Hopefully, neither the builders nor the community will ever forget the rich history of the block that was once Atlantic City High School.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

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By Atlantic City Free Public Library   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

If you missed out on its “just in time for Father’s Day” publication, now is as good of a time as any to check out this splendid little book about one of the great screen legends of all time, Jack Lemmon.

Written with complete reverence by his eldest son, actor/writer Chris Lemmon, A Twist Of Lemmon grabs and keeps your interest through its one-of-a-kind access and the first-time author’s easy-going, conversational style.

The respectful and heartfelt foreword by a frequent Lemmon costar, actor Kevin Spacey, sets the tone for this loving look at a superb actor. Hardly a conventional biography, A Twist Of Lemmon is appropriately subtitled A Tribute To My Father because that is exactly what it is.

Even though his parents divorced when he was very young, and he lived with his mother growing up, Lemmon does not indulge in the typical “My famous parent ruined my life! Oh, why was I born?!” tone that we are so accustomed to reading nowadays. He vividly describes in sympathetic detail what it was like to grow up as “JackLemmon’son” (a phrase coined from how well-meaning folks would introduce him) and the lengths that he went to in discovering his own identity.

Where Lemmon truly succeeds is in his ability to compare his relationship with his father to the relationship of Jack Lemmon with his father. He also compares his relationship to his own children with his father’s parenting skills. Ultimately, he paints a picture of himself and his beloved “Pop” as two complex men, both of whom turned out to be great fathers.

Lemmon starts out each chapter discussing moments at his father’s hospital bedside, which some critics have dismissed as morbid sensationalism, but they are absolutely wrong. These are the most moving sections of this memoir, and the only complaint that can be made about A Twist Of Lemmon is that it leaves you wanting more.

By Joe Legato   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Here’s an innovation: mix some humor and lightheartedness into an otherwise terrifying horror-genre game. Well, it looks like Capcom has come up with the idea already with its new release, Dead Rising.

You play as Frank West, a freelance photojournalist who has 72 hours to take pictures in a large shopping mall. This is no ordinary mall, though; it is located in a shady Midwestern town that has recently been quarantined due to a large zombie infestation. Frank must now plow through hordes of the undead as he takes photographs and figures out what happened here.

But because Frank is in a shopping mall, your options of things to do first with him are almost limitless. You can choose an outlandish outfit at a fashionable clothing store, for example, or shop for weapons in the lawn-care section of another store. Or you can get help from the mall’s janitor as you save shoppers and battle psychopaths (who aren’t zombies, just crazy).

One cool feature of Dead Rising is Frank’s ability to level up as he gains experience. It becomes easier to turn a group of evil creatures into a river of blood as you focus on side quests. You can’t waste too much time, though, because the game gives you a finite amount of time to finish certain parts (you do only have three days, remember). Another unique feature of Dead Rising is Frank’s ability to take photographs throughout the game. You may want to take a picture or two if you find something interesting… or just look good in a new dress that you found.

Initially, Dead Rising can come off as a pretty scary game, especially with its mature rating. But once you give it some time you’ll see that the game is really more fun than frightening. It’s a game to play anytime, day or night. Dead Rising also gives a refreshing new look at the world: It’s amazing how much more fun a shopping mall can be when those annoying everyday consumers are replaced by bloodthirsty zombies.

By Greg Jones   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Although not exactly a comeback, Bob Dylan hasn’t been as visible in 25 years as he is these days. Amidst a seemingly never-ending tour, he’s found time to release a book of “essential” interviews—ironic given he hated the interview process—he has a show on XM satellite radio, he appears in television commercials for Victoria’s Secret and iPods, and released two Grammy-winning albums, Time Out of Mind (1998) and Love and Theft (2001).

His latest release, Modern Times, picks up where Love and Theft left off. The music is the same mix of bluegrass, R&B, blues, country, folk and rock and roll that anyone who has seen Dylan live since 2000 would instantly recognize. The backup band is amazing, and musically the album is as near perfect as humanly possible.

The Bobfather never claimed to have any significance in his lyrics. It’s hard to believe a song like “Masters of War” had no meaning, but if there was ever any doubt about Dylan’s claim not settled by “Leopard-skin, Pillbox Hat,” Modern Times should decisively end it.

In the opening track, “Thunder on the Mountain,” Dylan delivers the following lyrical gem: “I was thinkin’ about Alicia Keys/ I couldn’t keep from crying/ When she was born in Hell’s Kitchen I was living down the line/ I’m wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be.” Things get stranger in a cover of Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ and Tumblin’,” in which Dylan laments, “some young, lazy slut has charmed away my brains.”

Ultimately, Modern Times is a mixed bag. There are four great songs, a couple of so-so numbers, and the rest are nothing more than musical methaqualone that may have some listeners hoping Pete Seger will show up with his axe. Nonetheless, the album is on top of U.S. charts, which makes Dylan’s attack on critics in 1965’s “Ballad of a Thin Man” strangely prophetic for this reviewer some 40 years later: Something is happening here, but I don’t know what it is.

By Beth Joseph   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Poseidon is a remake of the 1972 shipwreck disaster film The Poseidon Adventure with advanced technology and special effects. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the film follows a small group of luxury cruise ship passengers as they attempt to survive after their vessel is hit by a rogue wave, causing it to capsize.

The wave hits during a New Year’s Eve party and passengers and crew are thrown into freefall, crushed by debris or swept away as water bursts into the ship. Broken gas lines ignite flash fires as rafters and lighting fall, leaving the ship in disarray.

Dylan Johns (Josh Lucas), a former Navy man and professional gambler, ignores captain’s orders to stay put and leads a diverse group through the sinking ship, including Molly (Jacinda Barrett) and her young son, as well as Nelson (Richard Dreyfuss as a gay, suicidal architect).

Kurt Russell plays Robert Ramsey, a former New York mayor and firefighter, who along with his daughter Jennifer (Emmy Rossum) and her boyfriend Christian (Mike Vogel), join the group and climb the 20-level ship toward freedom, overcoming obstacles of water, fire and corpses that line the way. Breath-holding and swimming are substitutes for dialogue as water rises through tunnels, airshafts and staircases.

Even for someone who did not see the original, the plot is somewhat predictable. But what the film lacks in character, personality and development it makes up for in special effects, via fires, floods and falling debris. The extraordinary visuals jump between avalanches of water and the disheveled ballroom.

(Hint: With water everywhere for nearly all of this 98-minute film, be prepared to hit the pause button for a bathroom break.)

In all, while this version of Poseidon can’t stack up to the star power of the original (Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, et al), it certainly matches the excitement.

Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Are you a shopper? Do you or family and friends tend to hang out at the nearby mall? Well, if you take even an occasional trip to the mall, Atlantic Cape Community College has some exciting news for you. Later this fall, a site for the Institute for Service Excellence (ISE) will be opening at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing. This new 4,100-square-foot facility will have two multi-use classrooms, a computer lab, job resource room, conference space, and some offices located just past the food court near Sears on the second floor of the mall.

The ISE is a workforce development partnership initiative designed to enhance the skills of potential and incumbent workers in service industries, including retail, tourism, health care and hospitality.

Joining ACCC in this new facility will be the Atlantic Cape May Workforce Investment Board, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the National Retail Federation.

The build-out expenses were underwritten by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the NJ DOL, Atlantic Cape Community College and Kravco-Simon, Inc., the mall owner and management operator. In fact, many kudos to Kravco-Simon, which is leasing the site to ACCC for just $1 a year and covering the entire operational site costs as well!

The ISE is based on a national model established by the National Retail Federation, a professional association of retailers. There are currently 16 skill centers similar to the ISE across the United States, but none that have specifically targeted more than the retail industry, as this institute has.

The ISE’s core sales and service training program is based on the NRF curriculum guidelines, and prepares students for the NRF’s national certification test in professional customer service. This system of certification addresses the need for an industry-recognized credential that documents an individual’s knowledge and skill in sales and service. Possession of this certification increases career opportunities for the job-seeker, and provides employers with a cost-effective tool to guide recruitment, measure employee performance and evaluate training.

How do we know that this training actually works? ACCC has been quietly implementing this program for over two years at the Atlantic County One Stop Center in Atlantic City and at other sites. In fact, this program is successful even with “high-risk” populations. Here’s an example.

Administrators at Oakcrest High School who work with special-needs students approached ACCC in the fall of 2005 to see if we could teach the Professional Customer Service class for 12th graders in their alternative route program. Where normally students would leave school at noon to go to a job, seniors were “recruited” to stay at school for three afternoons a week and participate in this curriculum. Dee Kelly was recruited to instruct and conducted the class in a very professional and friendly environment.

Here are the outstanding results: 13 alternative school seniors applied to participate. Class started in October 2005. In May 2006, 10 students graduated. The change in the participants was remarkable. They demonstrated customer service and public speaking skills rarely seen in young adults. Seven of the ten students passed the NRF certification exam and one missed by very few points.

Nine of the ten students secured jobs in the industry. Most are pursuing further education while they work. Congrats to Mrs. Kelly and to the students for retaining their positive energy and doing the hard work to succeed! The morale of this story is… a good curriculum in the hands of a caring and capable college-level instructor can make a world of difference to the individual, no matter what age, and to area employers.

We hope you will stop by to visit the Institute for Service Excellence at the Hamilton Mall. Keep your eyes open for announcements of the grand opening and your ears open to refer family, friends and co-workers who might be looking for a great opportunity to enhance their sales and service skills.

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Joel Dincher did not mind, for once, being under his girlfriend’s thumb. The breakup of his award-winning Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, restaurant put Dincher in a quandary last year. Would the former owner open another place, work for an employer, or seek an entirely new direction? In stepped his girlfriend Brandy.

“We had an atlas of New Jersey, the southern half of New York and Pennsylvania,” Dincher recalls. “I asked where she wanted to go. Brandy closed her eyes, placed her thumb down and opened her eyes. Her thumb landed on Brigantine.”

So did they. Dincher applied to several properties, accepted a position at the Sands’ Brighton Steakhouse and received an early Hollywood-style dividend. Dincher, now its executive chef, recently helped the Brighton become the top steakhouse in New Jersey according to the Zagat survey. Brighton had been the city’s top steakhouse for five straight years, but made a substantial leap to statewide distinction.

“It’s a huge award for our team,” Dincher says. “It comes at a time when I think Atlantic City is the steakhouse capital of the world. When you look at Ruth’s Chris, Morton’s, Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck all bringing restaurants into Atlantic City, this becomes more of a great achievement.

“You are selected on the basis of quality of service, presentation and décor. The Zagat award is also special because the review is totally blind. You never know when someone is coming. You have to be sharp, all the time.”

The Zagat notoriety emphasizes the competitive nature of a smaller property. The Sands never matched the gaming space of industry powerhouses, but sparkled in the level playing field of cuisine. “We’ll do maybe 300-350 meals in a night, when we are busy,” Dincher says.

“Some places do 800 covers a night, but I think you lose the intimacy when you get to that volume. I still go out to greet the guests, ask how everything is, etc. When you have 800-900, you are herding them through.”

Distinction is nothing new for Dincher. He amassed 19 awards in culinary arts, including two Iron Chef titles (one-on-one cook offs). Dincher has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s top 10 chefs, served an array of celebrities and catered numerous private parties.

Cooking expertise was no accident. His mother was a food and beverage director for a Holiday Inn. His stepfather was a chef. “When I was growing up, I was always in the kitchen bothering him,” Dincher recalls. “He showed me a lot. You see things and after awhile you can think for yourself. Just because you have seen veal picata prepared a certain way, that does not mean you have to do the same thing. There are no rules in culinary arts. Use your imagination. Add what you would like. Press the envelope and get creative. That’s part of the joy in all of this.”

Dincher has heeded his own advice. He made the difficult switch from owner to employee and now savors a smaller domain. Dincher lets owners worry about finances. He caters to the dining public, the whims of a high-end players and the crucial sense of presentation.

Ironically, just as occurred with his last job in Pennsylvania, the Brighton is being pulled out from under Dincher’s feet, as the Sands is scheduled to close its doors in November. However, also as happened after his last job, any prospective employer will be jump at the chance to marshal a talent this obvious.

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Frank Quigley always loved the numbers. Once, that meant rushing yardage, passing completions and touchdowns.

Now, it means revenue. Quigley, a Cape May native, former fisherman and 23-year Atlantic City gaming veteran, thrives in Sioux City, Iowa, as general manager of Penn National Gaming’s Argosy riverboat property. Sporting analogies remain strong to the executive who left three years ago as Showboat’s vice president of slot operations.

The former halfback and defensive back at Lower Cape May High School keeps score differently now, through finances. A touchdown can be an above-average economic quarter. An interception could mean stealing a competitor’s business. A Super Bowl team could be the organization he’s connected to. Penn National, which acquired Argosy and thus Quigley’s facility in 2005, is the nation’s third-largest gaming company.

Sioux City? That could be the equivalent of an expansion franchise. In any case, Quigley draws from the instincts of an athlete in order to run a property.

“Even as a kid, I remember being competitive in athletics, always wanting to win,” Quigley recalls. “Now, you keep score every day with numbers. Instead of reading the box scores, you read the financials. It’s very exciting. I’m ultra-competitive, so its’ fine that being a GM has more pressure than another position. Pressure is self-inflicted.”

And it occurs on his terms. Quigley enjoys the flexibility of PN Gaming, which allows local decision-making for its properties. The philosophy enables operators to avoid the one-size-fits-all approach some corporations have brought to gambling.

Quigley was allowed to embellish Iowa’s unique status. It doesn’t resemble the drive-in market of Atlantic City or the tourist drive-in base of the Las Vegas Strip. But it resembles Las Vegas another way.

“We are all locals here,” Quigley says. “The people who live here drive to your place today and you will see them in the supermarket tonight, or at the ballgame. You may sit on the same charitable board with these people. You approach everything a little differently. I’ve taken some of the pages out of the Station and Boyd properties (in Las Vegas) and try to mirror some of the things they do. I think you end up being more community-minded. That’s what I love about PN Gaming. You are free to do what you think is correct. You don’t have to execute something you don’t believe in.”

Quigley ought to believe in fate, because it brought him to the business. He was firmly embedded in the fishing community before a pair of life-altering tragedies occurred.

“A couple of my boyhood friends who were in the business drowned,” Quigley says. “That was really tough. I was married, young, had a new baby and I decided to get out of the fishing business to find a better way to live. I had grown up before the renaissance in Cape May, when fishing was all there was down there. Atlantic City had opened in1978, so I decided to drive up there and check it out.”

The drive turned into a new direction. Quigley joined Harrah’s on day one and glided through a promotional journey. He became skilled in human resources, casino marketing, running a junket program and then making substantial career leaps. Quigley became a manager, then a vice president of operations at Showboat before ending his long run here three years ago.

“Harrah’s was good about seeing potential in people and putting you into different areas,” Quigley recalls. “All of that helped me grow. I really did fall in love with the business. The first few years in, I was obsessed with it. It was such an intense environment and I burned out a little bit in the late ’80s, like a lot of people. What helped me stay was that I started a hardware store while I still had a job and it didn’t work out. It made me realize again how good the casino industry is.”

So is an Atlantic City diploma. Quigley evolved during the infancy of this market. When expansion revolutionized the industry, pockets of new opportunities awaited those who had been baptized under fire.

“Atlantic City is the big leagues,” Quigley says. “I had a 23-year education there with all the disciplines of the business. We saw a lot of action. We had 5,000 employees. We had slot machines by the thousands as opposed to the hundreds. If you can be an executive in the big leagues, you can be prepared to be a boss if you leave.

 “I’m very proud to be part of that early generation of casino gamers. As you go around the country, you find out that it’s cool to say you were part of the beginning of Atlantic City. You can go to almost any property now and probably find someone who started back in the day.”

Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Congratulations! You have found the home that you always wanted. The seller accepted your offer and you have been pre-approved for a mortgage. You will be going to settlement in less than a month and you’re excited.

Well, you should be excited. Getting acceptance of an offer on a home that you really want is a joyous occasion. Being told that you qualify for the home is even more exciting. But wait a minute…

If you think that being pre-approved for a loan and having an accepted offer means that you are in the clear, you could be wrong. Sometimes what you do after you apply for the mortgage can be devastating to your home-ownership dreams. Following these simple “don’ts” will help ensure that your transaction is smooth.

Do Not Change Your Job

  Do not make any career changes during your loan transaction. Even if it is a better job, or more money! At least try to stall the start date of your new position. Most lenders consider your length of time on the same job or in the same industry a factor in determining your credit worthiness. It shows that you have financial stability.

Do Not Take On New Debt

 Many people are tempted to make large purchases for their home, such as appliances, furniture and other household items, prior to settlement. Your loan was qualified based upon the amount of debt and income that you had at the time that you made application. If you increase your debt, you may be changing the affordability factor of the new home. If you change that, it can change the terms of the whole loan, and possibly cause you to be rejected.

Do Not Pack All Your Important Items

 I know that you want to start packing your things and get ready to move into your new home. However, the lender may need additional information throughout your loan process. If you do not have immediate access to the items needed, this may hold up the processing of your loan. Items such as pay stubs, tax returns and checkbooks should remain available to you at all times.

Do Not Buy or Lease a New Car

 While this seems to make sense, for some reason people seem to associate buying a new home with buying a new vehicle. This is the same thing as taking on new debt! You will ruin your debt ratios and possibly be rejected for the loan. Many lenders will recheck your credit prior to closing; they will see that you have made a large purchase.

Pay Your Bills

 As I said above, many lenders will recheck your credit prior to closing. Any significant changes in your credit score can result in reconfiguring the terms of your loan and may have a negative impact on your overall score. Many people seem to forget to pay their bills, especially when a refinance is in process.

Simply, just don’t do anything that may negatively impact your credit score, or your ability to qualify for a loan. If you are not sure if something may impact your loan or your credit worthiness, please be sure to contact your loan specialist. They can help lead you in the right direction.

Buying a home should be an exciting experience. Many people find the process of searching for a home, and the process of qualifying, to be stressful. Help your loan specialist make your transaction as smooth as possible by following the advice above. You will be rewarded with the home of your dreams!

Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Each year, thousands of American workers suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders commonly associated with a Repetitive Motion Injury (RMI). These injuries can be either a temporary or permanent injury to muscles, nerves, ligaments and tendons, and result from stress or strain imposed on some part of the body from the nature of a repetitive task.

This includes computer tasks such as typing and mouse use, recurring motions such as twisting, turning and grasping, and overhead activities such as reaching. Sustained postures such as slouching or bending forward can also cause, or at least contribute to, the condition.

Symptoms can present themselves as pain with movement, tingling or numbness in the affected area, swelling and inflammation, loss of strength or complete loss of function. If the injury affects the spine, such as with postural syndromes, headaches, or neck and low back pain, radiating pain into the upper or lower extremities may also occur.

There are several treatment options available for someone who has sustained an RMI. These include rest, anti-inflammatory medication, splinting, thermal agents such as ice or heating pads, and in the more severe cases, a steroidal injection from your physician.

Although these treatment options can be beneficial in reducing inflammation, they do not address the factors that contribute to the injury, such as posture, tight tissue, restricted joint motion and faulty mechanics of movement. These factors can be addressed and corrected with the help of a physical therapist trained in orthopedic manual therapy (OMT).

OMT is a physical therapy specialty which consists of massage-like work on muscles, gentle repetitive stretching of joints and tissues around them, postural corrections and, where necessary, the classic “manipulation” to free jammed or poorly functioning joints.

These techniques have been proven by many researchers to be safe and effective treatment options for restoring mobility and function to joints and muscles that lack adequate range of motion, as well as reducing pain and stiffness in joints and surrounding tissue.

Orthopedic manual therapists are trained in arthrokinematics (intricate movements of the joints) and biomechanics (functional movements of the body and limbs). This specific training is essential for the detection of postural and movement faults commonly seen in RMI.

With a thorough evaluation and a tailored treatment plan, postural deficits, faulty mechanics and overall performance can be enhanced and corrected to improve your function and reduce the risk of re-injury. Orthopedic manual therapy consultations take about one hour for the first visit and 30 to 60 minutes for subsequent visits.

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

Horse racing patrons enjoy their slice of Borgata’s $200 million expansion pie. Part of the mass upgrade created a modernized room for the industry’s overlooked masses. It gave simulcast players, who wager daily on horse races throughout the world, a mini-palace. The Borgata room features 100 seats, scores of plasma televisions, self-betting machines and a liberating sense of space.

It’s a bonanza for bettors, who traditionally operate in cramped quarters. Much of the claustrophobia centers on their gaming impact—casinos don’t realize substantial revenue from simulcasting, even though a player’s win percentage rivals the worst games in the casino. The quandary exists because tracks, not casinos, receive a lion’s share of the handle.

Once New Jersey failed to enact legalized sports betting, a move that would have piggybacked horse racing atop a massive sports-book construction, racing fans suffered. Many properties now squeeze simulcasting into a corner or convert its space to more lucrative ventures like slots and poker. Some jurisdictions elevate horse racing only in tandem with other ventures. Las Vegas combines racing and legalized sports betting into monolithic betting parlors. Mohegan Sun, with enormous screens, self-betting machines and mammoth space, is probably the best facility in the country. It arrived in an overall expansion.

Atlantic City does not have to rival these measures, but a timely upgrade produces sharp results. Borgata joins Wild Wild West in promoting the Sport of Kings and its ancillary by-product. Players can opt for additional games, bring spouses and patronize restaurants. They also come en masse for special events like the November 4 Breeders Cup.

The Borgata will consider Breeders Cup Day its first major event since the June 30 opening. Yet the facility has already done well. It was jammed on the Tuesday after Labor Day, with only eight of a possible 16 tracks running.

“We wanted to create a great experience for these customers,” says Nancygail Jones, Borgata’s race book manager. “Borgata offers guests a ‘trade up’ experience in comparison to the other product offerings in the city. We know there’s competition, so we make sure our guests have a memorable experience every time they come here.”

Overnight, Borgata became one of the city’s premier race books. Sixteen tracks can be shown at one time on varying screen sizes. Thirty-two tracks will be shown on a busy day, like Saturday. Top-flight facilities like Churchill Downs (site of the 2006 Breeders Cup), Santa Anita, Belmont Park, Arlington and the Meadowlands simulcast their meets. Lesser-known tracks feature maidens (who have never won) and encourage longshots.

The agenda arrives in style. Bettors regard the upgrade the way a starving person would eye a smorgasbord. It’s a visual wagering feast.

Every seat has its own 15-inch plasma television, the new-millennium simulcast version of the UN. Players can select tracks they wish to follow, rather than strain eyeballs when their favorite facility is tucked in a corner. The up-close look provides convenience and benefits “looks” players, who monitor a horse’s appearance before committing to a bet.

Then come the Tiny Tims. No, not the infamous singer, but self-betting machines at a player’s seat. Forty of these high-tech machines alleviate the top source of aggravation among bettors—long lines which produce shutouts. With Tiny Tims (“Tiptoe through the Trotters?”), a player can wager right where he sits. This comfort, still considered a cutting-edge element, enables a player to stay for several hours and rarely leave his seat.

“It works on a daily basis,” Jones says. “You can open an account for one day and be given an account number. When you press that number in on the machine, you can make wagers. If you need to add to the account, you can do that.”

A number of self-betting machines dot the sides of the facility. A small high-end section caters to bigger bettors and the room sits around the corner from a cafeteria. Beverage servers and a bar at the back of the facility allow patrons to combine eating with gambling.

Borgata’s book opens at 11 a.m. daily. Weekend visitors are encouraged to come early to claim a seat. Some will be reserved for hotel guests.

Bally’s, meanwhile, offers the simulcast exacta. Wild Wild West and Billy’s combine to provide Atlantic City’s largest number of seats. Wild Wild West, with 95 seats, also offers the city’s largest center-cube screen (five by five feet). Four large projection screens, 24 of the 36-inch screens and 13-inch televisions at each seat highlight its state-of-the-art approach. Wild Wild West stood alone as the only property with a Vegas-type race book until Borgata appeared.

Patrons have more than a month to enjoy Atlantic City’s simulcast parlors before Breeders Cup Day. More than a month to savor the fact that every day is now a step up.

By Beth Joseph   Tue, Oct 03, 2006

This month marks the one year anniversary of the 40/40 Club. The Atlantic Avenue location is a reprise of the famous bar in New York City—both owned by legendary music producer and artist Jay-Z. Not your typical hip-hop and R&B club, the 40/40 is an upscale sports lounge with over 40 flat-screen and projection televisions. Named for the baseball feat of hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in the same season, 40/40 Club features sports memorabilia, private VIP rooms, comfortable seating, cigars and signature drinks.

Known for lavish after-parties for celebrity names such as Mariah Carey and LL Cool J, the 40/40 Club has become a magnet for sports figures and celebrities such as Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson, actress Vivica A. Fox and New York Nets star Vince Carter.

“You never know what celebrities are going to be here,” Manager Alexander Lopez explains. “That is what sets us apart from a whole lot of other clubs.”

In addition to celeb sightings, 40/40 is the ultimate sports bar. The main floor features dozens of couches and seating areas with private flat video screens, plus a central movie-size screen with raised stadium seating a few feet from the central bar. A second bar is located near the top of the stadium seats, near several unique private club rooms, which can be rented for parties or special events.

The lounges, dubbed A Rod, ESPN-Hall of Fame and Caesars Diamond Lounge, are equipped with 60-inch plasma TVs, lush couches, pool tables and autographed jerseys from sports greats. One of the only smoking lounges in Atlantic City, the Cognac Room, offers a variety of cigars displayed in hand-carved wood cases along with fine single-malt Scotch and rare cognacs.

The 40/40 Club is open seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and features New York DJ Poun on Friday and Saturday nights. Drink prices range from a $5 beer to $12 specialty drinks. During football season the bar and lounge open at noon on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate all the day’s games.

By Sharon Harris-Zlotnick   Mon, Oct 02, 2006

To thousands in this region, the Ram’s Head Inn brings back fond memories of a special evening or party. Located eight miles west of Atlantic City, the World War II-era building sits on five acres. The Ram’s Head’s water tower was built for a power station in 1912. Following its restoration in 1982, it was moved to welcome visitors to the site.

The Ram’s Head’s fabled history includes an era as the Black Steer Ranch in the 1950s. Hostesses dressed as cowgirls on horseback escorted customers to the parking lot and restaurant.

In 1976, it was renamed the Ram’s Head Inn after being sold to local restaurateurs Fred and Ethel Noyes. Following Ethel’s death in 1978, it was again sold to its current owners, the Knowles family.

Two kitchens serve up to 250 in four main dining rooms. The Garden Room has greenery and ceiling skylights. The glass-enclosed Terrace Room overlooks the garden. Three private dining rooms can accommodate 10, 20 and 40.

Executive Chef Luigi Baretto has created beautiful, innovative dishes for almost 25 years. The Rams Head Inn has received several coveted Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) awards. The international menu showcases French, Italian, Asian and traditional American dishes from different regions of the U.S. The new fall menu debuts in early October, and will include some game items. The Ram’s Head uses fresh fruits and vegetables from each season.

At dinner, men must wear jackets in the dining rooms, but the dress code is relaxed for lunch. The Tavern lounge does not require jackets. It has live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, and serves the full menu.

To promote Friday evenings, the Ram’s Head has introduced an “Attitude Adjustment” happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring drink and wine specials. General Manager Dan Anderson states, “For $1 per ounce, customers may design their own drinks from our ‘by the glass’ list of 30 wines. With no minimum, it is perfect for anyone looking to sample a variety of wines inexpensively. We also serve some complimentary appetizers.”

Prices range from $9 to $18 for appetizers; entrees cost $21 to $38, and include a salad and side dishes. Traditional Caesar Salad is prepared tableside, followed by sorbet. One house specialty is Chateaubriand for two, carved tableside. Several desserts are served from a rolling cart.

Anderson says, “Our biggest obstacle is overcoming a misconception that we are pricey, because we offer wonderful food value for the cost. Our updated wine list has grown to 1,000 varieties; many are sold as half bottles. We also have history and longevity in the region, and want to remind people we are still here, since there is a lot of new competition.”

Reservations are suggested. Major credit cards are accepted. Lunch is served from noon to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 3:30 p.m., Sunday. Parking is free.

Chef's Corner

Baby Rack of Lamb (with mint pesto rubbed and pistachio encrushed mint justlie)

The Ram’s Head Inn serves this recipe with an assortment of sauteed vegetables in a potato netting.

Ingredients: 16 oz. domestic rack of lamb

olive oil mint leaves

1 garlic clove

1 tbl. of pistachio pepper and kosher salt

To Prepare: Take rack of lamb and season with oil, pepper and salt then place on grill to mark.

Once marked move rack to a 350 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes until medium rare.

Take olive oil, several mint leaves, and one clove of garlic and chop finely (like pesto). Brush mixture onto lamb, then top with one tablespoon of finely chopped pistachio to complete.

Sauté fresh vegetables. Final touches of radish and beet-red micro greens are added for plate décor.

By Roger Gros   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

William Gormley has been a part of Atlantic City for his entire life. The son of the Atlantic County Sheriff, Gormley is a former Marine, a graduate of Notre Dame, and former two-term state assemblyman. He was elected to the state Senate in 1982 and has led the redevelopment of Atlantic City since then. Sometimes referred to as the “boss” of Atlantic City—a term he disdains—it is true that any legislative measure affecting Atlantic City must go through his office before it would be considered by the full state legislature. With Democratic Governor Jon Corzine in office, and the state legislature controlled by the Democrats, Republican Gormley would seem to be on the outside looking in. But he’s more powerful than ever after parlaying support for the governor against the opposition of Corzine’s own party during July’s state shutdown. Gormley discusses how this came about as well as the future of Atlantic City with Casino Connection Editor Roger Gros, who interviewed Gormley in his Hamilton Township office in August.

Casino Connection: Many people were shocked with the state shutdown over the budget impasse. Did it surprise you that much, being on the inside?

Gormley: I didn’t think the Assembly Democrats would be that misguided, and frankly, that dumb! This scenario had come up three years before when I was again fighting tax increases, and it was ruled at the time that the casinos would have to close because they were subject to the appropriations act even though they had their own independent source of money. I then checked with legislative services in Trenton, the people who actually write the laws, and they said it was best to have legislation to take the casino funding process out of the appropriations act.

So I put the bill in and it sat for three years. The Democrats (who controlled the legislature during that time) did not move it. So I knew this would be a problem.

As we got closer to the budget deadline, there I am working with the governor in a bipartisan fashion, and I’m agreeing with him! I think it was a good budget in general, but also I didn’t want to see Atlantic City affected.

The budget that was eventually accepted he gave to the Democrats on June 21, with a deadline of June 30. It took the three days of Atlantic City casinos being closed before they agreed to it.

So now, they’re trying to implement this legislation that is essentially my legislation from three years ago.

I was surprised at the total disconnect that the Democratic Party had for the wellbeing of this region.

We’ve heard a lot about the Camden County Democrats trying to control Atlantic County. Do you believe that is happening and what are you doing to try to prevent that?

We have a very strong governor now. That era is over. He has established that he is the chief executive.

 The legislative team from Atlantic County has usually been united in what’s best for the county, but now there seems to be a divide between you, Assemblyman Blee and Assemblyman Whelan. How did that happen?

I think you’ll see that whatever Whelan called an accomplishment as mayor, I had to do the legislation to get it done. I think that’s a very fair characterization. Whether it’s the tunnel or the convention center, I had to do the funding. Or the refurbishing of the Boardwalk Hall, which he opposed, which is now the finest arena in the country, I think you’ll find that I had to put the legislation together to do it.

I find this to be a unique situation. I had to wind up defending the governor from his party. The governor has a better understanding of the economy of this region than any governor I’ve ever worked with. And Jim Whelan was attacking the governor. He claimed he was standing up to the governor but in reality he wasn’t standing up to Camden County. He has a certain loyalty to (Assembly Speaker) Joe Roberts and the Camden Democrats, and he decided that outweighed his loyalty to his governor. And that’s fine; that’s his choice.

I have never not worked with Jim Whelan. I have always been there for the district; that’s my reputation. You have to understand something. They wanted Jon Corzine to do a casino tax since January, June and in the July budget that never got out of committee. He simply said ‘No.’”

If anything, I could have been criticized for not going along with the Republicans! Look at (Second District Assemblyman) Frank Blee. He was the only Republican to vote for the budget and vote for the sales tax because he was standing up for the district.

I want to concentrate on bringing tens of millions of dollars of construction money and thousands of jobs to the district to ensure the long-term viability of the economy in the district I represent. What Jim Whelan did was sad, and it befuddles people.

What is your current relationship with Gov. Corzine?

Obviously, we have never had a governor who is a past president of Goldman Sachs, but I have never seen somebody with such business acumen with an understanding of what this market is and its potential. I really enjoy working with him. When you meet with him, it’s a conversation; it’s a genuine give-and-take. He really is seeking input and he listens well. And he’s spent $100 million to put himself in office, so I’ve got to give him the benefit of the doubt!

Casino executives think they’re talking to a peer in terms of business, someone they can talk to directly who really wants to see the market flourish. Corzine and his team understand economics. They understand markets. So when you talk to a Donald Trump or Gary Loveman, they get it! They’re not prefacing it with, “Let me explain EBITDA” or “Let me explain what’s going on here.” The governor and his staff get it.

Has he been misquoted or misunderstood when he said he wanted to consider VLTs at the Meadowlands to compete with VLTs in NY state?

Yes. He was at a meeting with the industry, and asked, “What are we going to do about VLTs in other states?” He brought it up. His only meaning was that he wanted to work together with the industry to protect it. This has been confirmed by all who attended the meeting.

Let’s look at the Democrats’ track record. They’ve proposed raising the casino tax multiple times. They opposed a governor in their own party who didn’t want to do that. And now they have criticized him for discussing how we can work together as a team to mitigate this issue. And what have they done for the industry lately? They’ve proposed sports betting. But it’s illegal! I would love to have sports betting, and supported it when it was possible to have passed it. But where were they when it came to passing a bill that would have avoided the closing of the casinos? They’re trying to play catch-up with their constituents and it’s not going to work.

AC is very hot right now. Many gaming companies are considering building or locating here. What are you doing to encourage this?

We now have a governor who understands business and what the casino industry means to Atlantic City. There are no longer any political bosses. There’s nobody you have to hire. Hire who you think is the best, the brightest, the most honest. That open door and level of integrity is most important. And if you have integrity and a stable tax environment, those are the two key elements to attracting business and the capital markets to our region.

The projects that are on the board are just getting bigger. Every time I talk to one of these companies, they’re adding $100 million or $200 million to their plans. Another tower here, another amenity there. That’s what’s happening.

We have a governor now who might leave it alone! Sometimes that’s a great strategy. All we know is we have something that’s working now!

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

Despite the heavy rains brought on by Ernesto, Atlantic City closed out the summer in style, hosting a number of events over Labor Day weekend and beyond.

Over at the Borgata, the new mur.mur nightclub featured a album release party with Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas. She rocked the house with foxy DJ Sky Nellor in support of her solo CD “The Dutchess” which hit stores in late September. Wyclef Jean also made an apperance at the mixx the same weekend, performing into the early hours to a pumped-up audience.

On September 15, wild man Tommy Lee invaded the mixx, spinning discs all night. Trump Marina was packed with boats and babes to wind down the summer season. More than 700 powerboats and yachts from 18 to 70 feet long were on display for the 22nd Atlantic City In-Water Power Boat Show September 7-10.

The Deck hosted the finals of the “Miss Deckadence” contest on September 1. The new Miss Deckadence, Donna, split the $20,000 cash and prizes with 2nd and 3rd place finalists and fellow Hooters waitresses Lauren and Julie. The party moves in-doors this winter when bikinis are traded in for lingerie with the Miss Dreamgirl contests at the Wave.

Festivities at The Deck continued with the “End of Summer Bash” sponsored by 95.1 WAYV. The rock band Smash Mouth performed a rousing acoustic set with audience participation on September 11. Sugar Hill Gang at Trump Plaza’s Beach Bar closed out the outdoor season on September 3.

Also on the 3rd, Casbah Nightclub at Trump Taj Mahal hosted the Playboy Playmates, partying and pumping beats until the sun came up.

September 9-10 brought the Festival Latino-Americano to Gardner’s Basin. Sharing the traditions of Hispanic heritage, the festival included folk dancers, bands, Latino food and activities for all ages.

From the Latino Fest to Cuba Libra, Tropicana’s Quarter also was crowded, as the community said goodbye to another summer season.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

The Atlantic City Airshow set new records in August, as 600,000 spectators crowded the Boardwalk for an unprecedented display of aerial acrobatics.

This year's "Thunder Over The Boardwalk," featured the rare coupling of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels, two military jet exhibition teams which are almost never seen on the same day.

By all accounts, the free aerial display was the best in the show’s four-year history, as on-lookers crowded at windows, beaches, balconies and piers to see the jets streak across the skyline.

The six-hour aerial display included vintage World War II fighters, Army skydivers, F-22s, and Stealth bombers. The thunderous fighter jets, flying 12,000 feet over the city, vibrated the Boardwalk.

More than 800 volunteers, city officials and air traffic controllers combined to assist the show’s organizers, which were led by the Atlantic City Regional Chamber of Commerce and the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard. This year’s event was sponsored by Borgata Casino, Hotel & Spa.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

Atlantique City, the world’s largest indoor antiques and collectibles show, packs the Atlantic City Convention Center on Oct. 14 and 15 with ten and a half acres of pottery, furniture, artwork and more. For two decades Atlantique City has been the best location for vintage treasures, containing more than 1,000 booths with collectible antiques from around the world and free appraisals. Hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From pottery to posters, folk art to furniture, there is something for everyone in attendance.

The Fall 2006 show, titled “The Big One,” allows shoppers to buy from hundreds of reputable dealers, and includes a free appraisal booth and free furniture delivery within 200 miles of the show. Attendees can meet well-known appraisers such as Caroline Ashleigh, Kathleen Guzman, Kyle Husfloen and Carolyn Remmey.

This year’s show offers a VIP ticket package which, for $99, includes Saturday and Sunday admission as well as four hours of early shopping from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on October 13. In addition, the VIP package offers a special cocktail party at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel and a canvas tote with special gifts. A two-day advance ticket is $24 and discounted rates for single-day admission are available. Tickets can be ordered online at www.atlantiquecity.com or by calling 800-726-9966, ext. 836; or by writing 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

If you love glamorous stars, big production numbers and music to tap your feet to, then check out the 7th annual Bollywood Music Awards. The event, to be held on November 4 at Trump Taj Mahal, was created to honor Indian singers and musicians, in a music awards ceremony unlike any other.

Combining India’s most splendid music and film, the awards show honors musical creators from all over the world including Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Caribbean.

Bollywood—the term refers to the regional film and music industry—is India’s answer to Hollywood, only bigger, with around 800 movies released every year. The show will be hosted by popular MTV VJ and remix queen Sophie Choudhury. Past ceremonies have featured all the spectacle of Oscar night, with stars like Michael Jackson, Sharon Stone and Tyra Banks frequenting the awards ceremony.

This year’s event will feature 15 performances, including Hindi stars Sukhwinder Singh and Kailash Kher, and reggae singer Terry Gajraj. The show begins at 8 p.m., and tickets range from $25 to $200. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.bollywoodawards.com or call 516-248 8777.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

The Borgata opened its new 85-table poker room in style by hosting the World Poker Tour from September 5 through 19.

The resort’s signature WPT event, the fourth annual Borgata Poker Open featured over 10,000 participants, including celebrities such as Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly (top right). The two-week-long event featured No Limit Hold ‘Em and 7 Card Stud on over 100 tables.

It was the first big event for Borgata’s luxurious new poker room, now the largest in town. The enlarged poker room has cut down the waiting time and improved the playing experience.

A pre-finals party was held at the mixx nightclub on September 14 that drew a mixture of poker champions as well as celebrity poker players including Michael Santoro, Daniel Negreanu and Antonio Esfandiari.

The Borgata Poker Open finals ran from September 15 through 19. The final table received national TV coverage on the Travel Channel. The event organizers also added a Rolex watch from Bernie Robbins Fine Jewelry to its cash prizes.

A Rolex was also an extra at the Hilton’s big poker event last month. Albert Sannini (right) won the Hilton’s first annual New Jersey State Poker Championship, held September 9-10. After a four-hour final Sunday Texas hold ‘em round, Sannini took home $49,104 as well as a Rolex watch for his wife. Second-place winner Agustin Mendez-Rodriguez took home $25,344 from the two-day event.

The month in poker wrapped up at the Showboat’s House of Blues, where the Brooklyn Society of the Deaf sponsored a poker tournament of a different sort. On September 16, over 200 deaf players participated in a Texas hold ‘em tournament. The tournament raised approximately $14,000 for the Brooklyn Society of the Deaf.

Next month, the National Deaf Poker Tour visits the Trump Taj Mahal. The event, to be held November 3-4, is geared to the deaf community and includes a ladies’ round to crown the title as the “Queen of Deaf Poker.” For more information, e-mail nationaldeafpokertour@gmail.com.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

Another sliver of Atlantic City history slid into the sea last month when Bader Field, the city’s municipal airport, closed down. The airport had been operating on a restricted basis for the past 10 years, welcoming only small private planes, and the city was simply waiting for a contract with the FAA to expire, which occurred on September 18.

Bader Field was unofficially established in 1910 when the first trans-Atlantic crossing was attempted, in a dirigible called “America.” That attempt was halted several miles offshore by a heavy storm, and a subsequent effort two years later by the dirigible “Akron” ended in disaster when the blimp exploded over the Inlet, killing its entire crew.

Just some of the notable happenings at Bader include:

• The first “air-port” designation (1919)

• The first field to host passenger aviation (Glenn Curtiss, 1911)

• The first air show (1910)

• The first “news bulletin” dropped from the air (1919)

 • The founding of the Civil Air Patrol (1941)

The airfield was named after the Atlantic City mayor, Edward L. Bader, in 1922, when the city purchased the land from private owners and added ball fields, and later a stadium, completed in 1949.

The last commuter flight left Bader Field in the late 1970s. The control tower, fuel trucks and mechanics were later removed, and air traffic was controlled from Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona, 11 miles away.

The demise of Bader Field means the beginning of a new era for the 50-plus acres of land. The city is now considering how to redevelop that land. Some suggestions include a park, residential and retail units or a theme park. But the most lucrative use of the land would be a mixed-use gaming project, which analysts believe could reap as much as $1 billion for city coffers.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

Trump Entertainment shocked longtime Atlantic City visitors last month when it announced it is closing the famed Steel Pier—at least for now.

The Steel Pier, once one of the entertainment jewels of the East Coast, has more recently been not much more than a sideshow to the city as a minor venue for amusement rides and arcade games. You can still ride the Ferris wheel and play the arcade games until October 31. After that, the venue jutting a thousand feet into the ocean that once hosted the diving horse, boxing kangaroos, and the top names in national entertainment will be re-tooled to give the adjacent Trump Taj Mahal a pier attraction to compete with the Pier at Caesars, recently reborn as an upscale retail and dining center.

“We will be making some exciting announcements for the pier,” Donald Trump said last month.

The future of the pier, owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts, will be determined by a board of directors meeting scheduled for November.

TER representatives plan to have a final announcement regarding the pier’s makeover by the end of the year.

By Casino Connection Staff   Fri, Sep 29, 2006

It was like a “back to the future” moment for Atlantic City last month when Craig Callaway, the city council president, emerged from a Camden courthouse as a convicted felon. Callaway had been caught in a federal sting that had him taking more than $30,000 in bribes to influence the choice of contractors in a North Inlet housing development. He will serve at least three years in prison for his offenses.

Callaway’s indiscretion recalled the indictments of the first two mayors of the city’s casino era. Mayor Michael Matthews had been convicted in 1985 of accepting a $10,000 bribe and spent several years in jail. Mayor James Usry was snared in the 1989 ABSCAM scandal but officials could only charge him with one campaign finance violation. After attending pre-trial intervention, Usry’s conviction was expunged.

The Callaway conviction is apparently just the first shoe to drop. Federal authorities have confirmed that at least 10 city officials and businessmen have been fingered in the inquiry but because plea negotiations and other investigations are ongoing, no further details have been released at press time.

Although there was no casino connection in any of the cases, including Callaway’s, the stench of corruption remains strong. In all cases, however, the convictions of the public officials did not impact on the development of the gaming industry in Atlantic City.

Callaway was instrumental in the elections of the past two Atlantic City mayors. He was able to manipulate the messenger and absentee ballot systems, apparently skirting the legal limits of the law. He backed Lorenzo Langford in 2001 against James Whelan, who succeeded Usry. Upon being elected, Langford refused to appoint Callaway to his preferred city job, so Callaway turned against him. He later got himself appointed as the Third Ward councilman and elected as City Council president. He also made a bid to take over the school board by packing it with his supporters.

In 2005, he mounted a campaign for mayor, which he abruptly dropped citing “health problems.” Bob Levy then took up the mantle and beat Langford, largely behind the power of the Callaway machine.

Levy has denied having anything to do with the Callaway misdeeds, although he claims to have known about the investigation for months.

In addition to Callaway, First Ward Councilman Gibb Jones resigned last month, also citing health reasons. Replacements for both Callaway and Jones, as well as a new City Council president, were chosen in late September, after Casino Connection went to press.

Thu, Sep 28, 2006

If the casino exemption to the statewide smoking ban is lifted—resulting in smoking being banned on our casino floors—CANJ believes that it will have a significant negative impact upon our industry and upon the livelihoods of thousands of our employees.

If the industry, through both management and employees, fails to successfully address this problem, we could find ourselves in a much weaker competitive position in the very near future.

In December of last year, the New Jersey smoking ban was enacted with an effective date of April 15, 2006. Fortunately, legislative leaders in the state capitol were sensitive to the concerns that prohibiting smoking on casino floors would have a negative financial impact statewide. Specifically, our casinos compete with other gaming jurisdictions including Las Vegas and Connecticut, and soon Pennsylvania, which do not have smoking bans.

In order to permit our industry to compete on equal footing with these jurisdictions, to the benefit of the entire state, casinos were exempted. The experience of casinos in Delaware referenced below is proof that such an exemption is essential.

However, only weeks after this law went into effect, Assemblyman Jim Whelan, whose legislative district includes Atlantic City as well as most of the city’s residential suburbs, sponsored a bill that would remove the casino floor exemption.

In his previous role as mayor of Atlantic City, Whelan did many positive things for Atlantic City and was a supporter of our industry as a catalyst for improving Atlantic City (and as an assemblyman he has been supportive of our industry on other issues, such as his opposition to slot machines at the Meadowlands). However, his first significant move as an assemblyman, and his continued efforts with regard to the smoking ban, we believe will have a significant and permanent detrimental impact upon our industry and the livelihoods of our employees, many of whom we believe will lose their jobs as a result of this legislation.

While Assemblyman Whelan indicates that he sponsored this legislation out of fairness to the non-casino bars and restaurants that were impacted by the smoking ban, we point out that all of our non-casino bars and restaurants also are subject to the smoking ban. He also has indicated that he is doing this to benefit the health of casino floor employees. However, Local 54, the labor union that represents the health and welfare of the largest number of our employees including the cocktail servers on the casino floor, has come out against Whelan’s smoking ban. In addition, at a recent “rally” that Assemblyman Whelan participated in, attendance and enthusiasm were minimal, indicating that the majority of our employees are not in favor of a smoking ban.

The casino exemption to the smoking ban is of critical importance to our industry for several reasons, including:

• It is a huge competitive issue as smokers, who are a significant component of our market, will likely flock to those casino jurisdictions that do not have a smoking ban, negatively impacting our marketplace, including the state, through decreased tax revenues, and our employees, some of whom will be laid off due to decreases in business volumes.

• Casinos are fundamentally different from other indoor sites. Our industry caters to a diverse market of different people and cultures, many of whom enjoy smoking while they partake in gaming.

One of the basis for our beliefs is the report that was issued by the international accounting firm of PriceWaterhouse Coopers, which studied the effect of the smoking ban that was imposed on Delaware casinos and applied the Delaware experience to New Jersey if smoking were banned in our casinos.

PWC determined that the state would lose $93 million of tax revenue in the first two years of the ban (these losses would continue in future years) and that 3,377 employees would be laid off due to decreases in business volumes. Since this report, there have been other gaming jurisdictions that have enacted smoking bans and have likewise seen their business volumes decline while bordering gaming jurisdictions have benefited.

Given these serious ramifications to the state’s tax revenues, the casino employees’ job security and incomes and the overall health of our industry, we suggest that the necessary time be taken to study the issue and discuss it with state policy-makers, union leaders, employees and other interested parties.

This would include exploring the capabilities of air filtration systems and related technology that might very well alleviate the concerns of the proponents of a casino smoking ban, but that would not put our casino industry’s continued success at risk.

Tue, Sep 26, 2006

For all those people who still think Atlantic City is a summer-only destination, one would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere the eclectic mix of entertainment, activities and attractions offered in Atlantic City this October.

Take a look at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. Legendary musician, singer and songwriter Elton John takes to the stage on Saturday, October 7. This concert is presented by Caesars Atlantic City. Next up is Barry Manilow, presented by the Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Atlantic City. The superstar artist, composer and producer will perform his blockbuster hits on Saturday, October 14.

Finally, the greatest rock and roll band in the world returns to Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall for a stop on “The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang” tour Friday, October 27. Co-presented by Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and Live Nation, the Stones bring the world’s top touring act to the Hall for one more piece of music history.

Over at the Atlantic City Convention Center, gourmet enthusiasts will gather at the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival, Friday, October 6 through Sunday, October 8. Visitors will be able to sample special recipes and treats or purchase gourmet gifts, kitchen appliances, cookbooks, spices, sauces and more. The festival will also feature live music, cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and cooking contests.

Hours for the show are Friday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (609) 398-4450 or visit www.gourmetshows.com.

Atlantique City returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15. Now in its 20th year, the world’s largest indoor antiques and collectibles show, will feature more than 1,000 dealers from around the world, free appraisals, and free furniture delivery within 200 miles of the show. Check our Tides section for more information.

It will certainly be a sight to see when Atlantic City turns pink with special lighting displays for the fifth annual Lights For The Cure campaign, honoring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Conducted in association with the Philadelphia affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and CBS-3 TV, this year’s event will take place beginning at dusk on Friday, October 6. Last year’s participants included the Absecon Lighthouse, Boardwalk Hall, the Hilton, Bally’s, Borgata, Caesars, Harrah’s, the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Blimp, the Sands, Trump Marina and Trump Plaza. This year, even more are expected to participate, including the new Pier at Caesars.

On Saturday, October 7, discover the annual Columbus Day Parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Starting at 12 noon on New Jersey Avenue and finishing at Albany Avenue, the parade will feature marching bands, floats and more. It’s sponsored in part by the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority.

On your mark, get set, go! The 47th Annual Atlantic City Marathon takes place Sunday, October 15. The run is mostly on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, with the remainder of the course taking place on local streets throughout Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport. For those not up for the 26.2-mile marathon run, there is also a 13.1-mile half marathon, 10K, 5K and two-mile non-competitive health walk. For more information, visit www.active.com or call 609-822-6911.

If the Atlantic City Marathon isn’t enough of a challenge for you, then take the 7th Annual New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge, and visit 11 participating lighthouses throughout the state on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, including Atlantic City’s own Absecon Lighthouse.

Just because the summer is over doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. From crooners and festivals to marathons and parades, there is something for everyone in Atlantic City, all year long.

Tue, Sep 26, 2006

Our cover feature this month will tell you how we—meaning the collective “we” of the Atlantic City casino industry—are constantly being compared to Las Vegas. It will also tell you one indisputable truth:

We’re not Las Vegas, nor do we aspire to be. (Okay, two indisputable truths, wise guy.) In case you haven’t noticed, we’re over here on the East Coast establishing our own identity. It’s actually a new identity, as a hip center of entertainment, nightlife, and shopping. Maybe Las Vegas has a few of those things too, but that’s not why we’re doing it.

Okay, maybe it is. But we’re not doing it so we can “be like Las Vegas.” It’s so we can redefine Atlantic City. It just so happens that we’re doing the young, hip thing to broaden our market, which Vegas did a few years back, for pretty much the same reason: We all realized that, to make money, the majority of our customer base should be, at the very least, alive—and, preferably, ambulatory.

Las Vegas has been serving a younger market for years, without alienating the older generation of gamblers, as I’m sure I did in the previous paragraph. (Sorry.) Out there in the desert, you have offerings like Red Square, the Foundation Room at House of Blues, the ghostbar and Rain Las Vegas at the Palms, and the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio.

Here, we have Atlantic City versions of the same thing, including our own Red Square, at the Tropicana’s Quarter (which, for my money, kicks the butt of the Las Vegas Red Square, at Mandalay Bay); and our own House of Blues with our own Foundation Room. (Okay, I admit the picture-postcard view of the Strip from the Vegas Foundation Room beats the ocean at night for visual stimulation.)

Additionally, for every ghostbar in Las Vegas, we now have our own hip nightclub with a similarly clever lower-case name, like mixx or mur.mur. (That one even has a period in the middle of the name. How hip is that?)

Beyond the desire to expand our market to include all age groups, we don’t aspire to be a new Las Vegas. For one thing, we are still basically a drive-in market, and will be for the foreseeable future. For us to be a fly-in market like Las Vegas, we will have to expand our airport, and we also will have to add hotel rooms—a lot of hotel rooms. Las Vegas has almost 125,000 hotel rooms; we have 12,000. We obviously need more rooms—preferably of the luxury variety, as opposed to the ones on the Black Horse Pike that rent by the hour and frequently double as crime scenes. (“Color TV!”)

That, of course, could happen in the future, but for now, we’re doing quite well as a regional destination, thank you very much. We’ve got conventions streaming into town, we’ve got the young-and-beautiful set pouring into town to dance the weekend away, and we’ve got every big name in entertainment making Atlantic City a required stop on their tours. We’ve got celebrity-chef restaurants; we’ve even got buffets.

We even have a clever catch-phrase. Over here, we’re “always turned on.” The only drawback is that, unlike Las Vegas, what happens here doesn’t stay here—it gets broadcast all over the East Coast. (But keep that to yourself, OK?)

 I’ll concede that we have a lot of Vegas-like amenities these days, but we also have a lot of stuff they’ll never have out there in the desert. Like… umm… an ocean! And the Boardwalk, and East-Coast stuff like corn dogs and subs and taffy and strolling along the beach and daytime temperatures in the summer that actually do not make humans melt into a puddle of slimy goo. Heck, we’ve even got carnies!

The point at which I am so laboriously trying to arrive is that we don’t have to be Las Vegas, and we don’t have to create a Vegas-like identity for ourselves. We’ve already got an identity. It’s a Jersey identity.

Hey, you got a problem with that?!?

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   Sat, Jan 23, 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   Sat, Sep 12, 2009

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