Category: New Jersey News

  • A civil complaint has been filed to unseat a jailed Willingboro council member

    A civil complaint has been filed to unseat a jailed Willingboro council member

    Though he’s currently behind bars at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix, Willingboro Township council member Nathaniel Anderson has not resigned from his position on council.

    Now, prosecutors have filed a civil complaint in New Jersey Superior Court seeking to remove Anderson from office, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday.

    The action asks the court to declare that Anderson, who previously served as Willingboro’s mayor, has forfeited his ability to serve on the council.

    Anderson was reelected to a four-year council term last November before being convicted by a federal jury in January of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, bank fraud, and two counts of making a false statement on a mortgage application.

    He was sentenced in June to one year and one day in prison and ordered along with his co-defendant to pay about $221,000 in restitution to the victims.

    While state-level convictions trigger immediate, automatic removal from office upon a guilty verdict, prosecutors must petition the state Superior Court to remove an elected official who refuses to resign following a qualifying federal conviction.

    A hearing on the order to show cause is scheduled for Sept. 11.

  • N.J. Democratic delegation asks President Trump to reverse FEMA aid rejection for deadly February snowstorm

    N.J. Democratic delegation asks President Trump to reverse FEMA aid rejection for deadly February snowstorm

    Every Democrat in the New Jersey congressional delegation signed a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to reverse his rejection of disaster aid for a deadly blizzard earlier this year.

    The lawmakers sent the letter, which was first obtained by The Inquirer, to the White House on Friday in support of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s appeal of the president’s rejection. Their plea comes after Trump denied an $84 million request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for relief for a late February blizzard earlier this month.

    “Severe blizzard conditions led to widespread damage—overwhelming State and local capacity,” the lawmakers wrote. “Tragically, this fatal event resulted in 12 confirmed weather-related fatalities across nine counties, the most out of any impacted state.”

    The letter was led by U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats. All members of the New Jersey delegation were invited to join, Booker’s office said, but all three of the state’s Republican members opted out. Even U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a South Jersey Republican, sat out of the effort despite initially backing the request in April.

    Van Drew joined Booker, Kim, and six Democratic House members in an April letter of support for the request in which they said the public assistance and hazard mitigation funds “are crucial to the recovery of the communities” impacted by the storm.

    President Donald Trump smiles while Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) stands next to him at a Keep America Great campaign rally in Wildwood, NJ on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020.HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer

    The request sought money for every county in Van Drew’s district for costs related to the snowstorm, including damage from moderate coastal flooding in Atlantic County and his home county of Cape May. Van Drew, a Trump ally and former Democrat, faces a challenge from Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock for his reelection in November.

    Van Drew did not respond to a request for comment.

    In the Friday letter, the Democratic lawmakers’ tone was direct but they did not reference accusations that Trump’s decision was politically motivated. Those concerns come amid a revelation that the Trump administration has been rejecting Democratic states at a particularly high rate. A Wednesday Politico report found Trump recently overrode regional FEMA assessments when he rejected aid for four Democratic states.

    The request included assistance for the vast majority of the state’s counties – including all of South Jersey – as well as hazard mitigation funding statewide, according to the Friday letter. Preliminary damage assessments across those 19 counties documented “extensive emergency work” such as snow and debris removal and “damage to critical infrastructure and public facilities.”

    The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management estimates that disaster costs will exceed $100 million, which is more than five times more than the state’s threshold of about $18 million to qualify for federal disaster assistance.

    Covered Bridge Road in Cherry Hill is Monday Feb. 23, 2026 after a power line was knocked down by the Sunday night snorwstorm.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    “The extent of the damage, the operational burden throughout the State, and the cumulative impacts of recent and related extreme weather all provide overwhelming evidence that New Jersey’s request must be granted,” they wrote. “While we commend the actions of the State and local governments to respond thus far, full recovery will require your approval of federal resources.”

    The lawmakers cite National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration data that found approximately 24 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours across central and eastern parts of the state, and eight of the state’s 21 counties recorded record or near-record snowfalls.

    Power outages during the storm impacted more than 127,000 customers in the state and there were 544 motor vehicle accidents and 1,518 motor vehicle-related assists, according to the letter.

    They also argued that Trump should consider that the state already had a “strained capacity to respond” because of another severe snow and ice storm weeks earlier, as well as six open federal disaster declarations — in reference to prior disasters for which the state is still working on recovery projects.

    “We look forward to working with you to ensure all Americans receive protection and support from the federal government in the aftermath of a serious disaster,” they wrote.

    On Thursday, Sherrill spokesperson Sean Higgins noted in a statement that the costs of the February snowstorm “didn’t care about political boundaries” and that the governor will fight for funding “regardless of political party,” in a nod to the accusations Trump is putting his thumb on the scale based on partisan favoritism.

    White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement Thursday, before receiving the letter, that the president “provides a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any Administration has before him” and that he responds to FEMA requests “with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement—not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.”

    She also said the Trump administration is committed “to empowering and working with State and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged.” The Trump administration previously tried to cut disaster prevention funding because it was too “focused on ‘climate change” before a group of states including New Jersey sued.

    Kim, the ranking Democrat on the committee that oversees FEMA, said in an interview Thursday that he is concerned that politics were involved in the latest rejection but couldn’t say for sure.

  • 🚲 An e-bike policy reversal | Inquirer South Jersey

    🚲 An e-bike policy reversal | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey.

    The New Jersey e-bike law that went into full effect earlier this month has a new update.

    And after President Donald Trump denied the state’s request for federal disaster aid, South Jersey Democrat Andy Kim has concerns about the possible politics behind the decision.

    Plus, several Camden County towns could owe more than a half a million dollars as part of a settlement in a class-action lawsuit, and more news of the day.

    — Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    What you need to know about the e-bike law

    New Jersey’s new e-bike law was passed in January and went into full enforcement on July 19.

    The state’s Motor Vehicle Commission has already made a policy change that impacts non-Jersey residents.

    Here’s what you need to know before you’re ready to ride:

    🚲 Everyone — including people from outside of the state — needs to register their e-bike. Out-of-state riders will need to make an appointment at the MVC and fill out a registration form.

    🚲 Properly registered e-bikes will get a sticker from the MVC to display.

    🚲 The law requires all riders to wear helmets and prohibits riders under the age of 15.

    The Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg breaks down the additional rules.

    A rejected $84 million FEMA request

    Back in February, New Jersey was hit with a record-breaking blizzard that resulted in thousands of power outages, school closures, and transit disruptions.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency, via President Trump, earlier this month rejected the state’s request for $84 million in disaster aid after the agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration already determined that Jersey met the required levels to receive the help.

    Sen. Kim said he’s worried the rejection may be partisan, but can’t say for certain. The White House has been consistent in saying Trump’s rejections for other disaster aid requests from states have not been politically motivated.

    What does this mean for future requests?

    New Jersey was recently hit by massive flooding, particularly in Camden and Camden County, which Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she thinks could be eligible for aid.

    Reporter Aliya Schneider has the story.

    What to know today

    • Five Camden County municipalities agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit over vacant property fees. If approved in court, Barrington, Bellmawr, Runnemede, Voorhees, and Gloucester Township would collectively owe more than $500,000.
    • An Atlantic City lifeguard has been charged with trying to lure an underage girl who turned out to be an undercover detective, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said Thursday. The man from Egg Harbor Township was arrested in Cherry Hill.
    • A woman was arrested and charged after fatally shooting her boyfriend in Winslow Township while in a parked vehicle, according to local authorities. The investigation is ongoing.
    • Gloucester County officials are reminding residents to ensure their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations and to avoid wildlife after a report of a rabid raccoon biting a Glassboro resident last weekend.
    • Thieves recently targeted two trading card shops, one in Washington Township and another in Gloucester Township, and stole thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards, 6abc reports. Earlier this month, a man was charged for allegedly stealing a Pokémon card worth $24,000 using fake cryptocurrency in Marlton.
    • Olympic figure skater Isabeau Levito, who grew up in Mount Holly and now lives in Mount Laurel, teased her upcoming programs for the 2026-27 season, including a Pirates of the Caribbean theme for her free skate.
    • After Avalon shut down a live band at Gully’s, the tavern is now fighting the borough’s restrictions on its liquor license.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which South Jersey township tried to shut down a Lil’ Kim concert in 1997?

    A) Logan

    B) Franklin

    C) Winslow

    D) Edgewater Park

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🫐 Shopping for: Fresh local fruit at the Bordentown Farmers Market.

    🛒 Watching: Inquirer social host Ariane Datil explain Jersey’s new ban on surveillance pricing on groceries.

    🦘 Remembering: That time when Rex, a three-year-old wallaby, went missing for about a day from Lots of Love farm in Williamstown and then was found safe at a Walmart.

    🏖️ Down the Shore

    This “Ask Down the Shore” feature appears as part of our weekly summertime series from Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg. Subscribe to her free Down the Shore newsletter here.

    Two weeks ago, a reader asked Amy about the dress code and she responded that most people fall into the “throw stuff in a suitcase” camp. Well, we posed the question to the Shore Line text group. Below are a few recent submissions:

    “‘Down the Shore everything’s alright.’ Sure it’s OK to wear beach attire (not sandy though, and do brush ur hair 😉)”

    “I don’t care how much money you have. Make an effort, for the sake of the restaurant staff and other guests, to put on clean shorts and a polo for men and a cute cover up/sundress for women. If you can’t do that, then there’s always takeout.”

    “Some people, when they come to the beach, lose or abandon their sense of propriety. Decent, casual attire respects the restaurant and other diners.”

    There’s still time to weigh in. Is there a baseline for what’s acceptable? Or does anything go when you’re on vacation? Email Rosenberg your thoughts at downtheshore@inquirer.com.

    📸 Photo of the week

    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts posed for a photo with Gisele Maldonado, of Princeton, N.J., during the first day of Training Camp at the Jefferson Health Training Complex on Wednesday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    TGIF. Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you on Monday. ☀️

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Officials advise caution after report of a rabid raccoon that attacked a man in South Jersey

    Officials advise caution after report of a rabid raccoon that attacked a man in South Jersey

    Public health officials are advising South Jersey residents to be alert and avoid wild animals after a report of a rabid raccoon that bit a man in Gloucester County last weekend.

    The Glassboro resident told 6abc Wednesday that the wild animal charged him outside of his home and bit the front of his leg before being captured and testing positive for rabies.

    Gloucester County posted an alert on social media Wednesday reminding residents to make sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and to avoid contact with wildlife. County officials did not respond to questions about the alleged attack Thursday.

    “Rabies is a serious disease, but it is preventable,” the county wrote. “If you see a wild animal acting unusual; such as appearing aggressive, unafraid of people, drooling, or unsteady; keep your distance and report it to your local health department or animal control.”

    Anyone bitten or scratched by a wild animal should wash the area with soap and water, seek medical attention, and contact local animal control or health officials, the county advised.

    6abc reported that authorities said the infected animal involved in the attack was seen fighting with another raccoon before it was captured, and that the county is now working to locate the potentially rabid animal.

  • Trump denied New Jersey’s request for FEMA aid after a blizzard. Andy Kim is worried it’s about politics.

    Trump denied New Jersey’s request for FEMA aid after a blizzard. Andy Kim is worried it’s about politics.

    Sen. Andy Kim wants to get to the bottom of why President Donald Trump rejected New Jersey’s request for FEMA aid over a record-breaking snowstorm earlier this year.

    Winter Storm Hernando, a massive blizzard, hit New Jersey and other Northeastern states hard in February. New Jersey submitted an $84 million disaster request after tallying the damage in the weeks that followed.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this month rejected New Jersey’s request as part of $227 million in disaster aid requests from four Democratic-led states that were denied, Politico reported Wednesday.

    The decision came from Trump after regional FEMA offices and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determined that the states met the required thresholds to receive aid, according to the report, which cited a former FEMA official calling the move to override the agencies unconventional.

    Kim said in an interview Thursday that Americans need “absolute assurance” that FEMA decisions won’t be based on “the whims of the president.”

    ”I think we should all just declaratively be able to say that partisan politics does not belong in disaster response … I would hope that every single public servant, from the White House to FEMA to the Capitol, believes that,” he said.

    Sen. Andy Kim speaks with Naimah Rutling, executive chef at Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, N.J., during a visit this month. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    The South Jersey Democrat is the ranking member on the subcommittee that oversees FEMA, the federal agency responsible for doling out aid to communities hit by disaster.

    The president must declare a disaster in order for states to access FEMA aid — and the same goes for individual assistance. Democrats have in recent weeks raised concerns that Trump has penalized blue states in these decisions.

    A 16-page NOAA report indicated snowfall records in seven counties in the state, and a 12-page spreadsheet developed by FEMA and New Jersey documented the $84.4 million in costs, which were primarily for snow removal, Politico reported.

    The National Weather Service reported blizzards in several counties, including in Southeast Burlington County and other parts of South Jersey. The blizzard caused disruptions to the region such as thousands going without power, school closures, and transit disruptions.

    Sean Higgins, a spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, said the state’s request included costs incurred by the state’s municipalities and counties. He said Sherrill’s administration will appeal the denial.

    “Without that aid, our local governments will be stuck with the costs of an unprecedented snowstorm that didn’t care about political boundaries … Governor Sherrill will continue to fight for every dime that New Jerseyans are owed, regardless of political party,” Higgins said in a statement.

    FEMA’s cost threshold for public assistance for New Jersey is about $18 million, according to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, far below the assessed damage from the storm.

    FEMA did not respond to an inquiry about the rejection on Thursday, but Kim said the agency said it disagreed that New Jersey met the threshold.

    White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson has told news outlets that Trump is ensuring FEMA aid is used “to supplement — not substitute” states’ “obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.”

    The South Jersey senator said he has “concerns” that the rejection was political but he can’t say for sure.

    “I understand that you know, the federal government’s not supposed to cover everything for everything, but … this was a situation of record snowfall in wide swaths of New Jersey and, frankly, across the country,” Kim said.

    If the state’s appeal isn’t successful, Kim said he has “more tools in my toolbox to try to get my state the funding they deserve” but declined to share what those would be, saying it’s part of a “broader negotiation.”

    President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Julia Demaree Nikhinson

    The White House has maintained that Trump’s rejections have not been political. But Kim and other Democrats have cited a March Politico report that found Trump’s second administration rejected disaster aid for Democratic-run states at the highest rate in the 47 years that FEMA has existed.

    The rejections underscore bigger questions of the future of FEMA. Trump previously called for the dismantling of FEMA before changing course, but his advisers have recommended an overhaul of the agency that would put more responsibility on states, NPR reported.

    Trump has also caused concern among Democrats for withholding FEMA’s Homeland Security grants from states that do not comply with his administration’s requests for unredacted voter data, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    New Jersey was also hit hard by flooding earlier this month and Sherrill said she believes the state would likely qualify for FEMA aid.

    Joseph Walsh, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, said New Jersey is still in the process of “collecting and validating” the assessed flood damage. Once that’s complete, the state will decide on whether to submit a request.

    Kim said he is trying to clarify and codify FEMA’s role and work with a bipartisan group of legislators on the issue.

    “Every single state is prone to some type of disaster, and so I just don’t want a situation where we’re pitting the states against each other … I hope we can all agree that we want to be there for each other in their time of need,” he said.

  • Atlantic City lifeguard is charged with attempting to lure an underage girl who was actually an undercover detective

    Atlantic City lifeguard is charged with attempting to lure an underage girl who was actually an undercover detective

    An Atlantic City lifeguard has been charged with attempting to pay for sex with who he believed to be an underage girl but who turned out to be an undercover detective, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.

    Stephen M. Pagnoni, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested this week and was being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing, Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay said.

    Pagnoni, who has worked for the Atlantic City Beach Patrol for around 20 years, was suspended from his position, MacAulay said.

    On Tuesday, Pagnoni allegedly began communicating online with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl, but who was in fact a detective with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, MacAulay said.

    During the conversation, Pagnoni allegedly arranged to meet the supposed teen girl at a park in Cherry Hill for sex in exchange for money, MacAulay said.

    After he arrived at the location, MacAulay said, Pagnoni was taken into custody by Cherry Hill police and members of the prosecutor’s office.

    Pagnoni was charged with first-degree attempted manufacturing of child sexual abuse material, second-degree attempting to lure a child, second-degree attempted sexual assault of a minor, second-degree attempted prostitution with a minor, and related offenses.

    In an emailed statement, the Atlantic City Department of Public Safety said it was aware of the criminal charges against Pagnoni.

    “Based upon those charges, the lifeguard has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. The department will continue to monitor the investigation and will take any additional administrative action that may be appropriate as the matter proceeds,” the agency said.

    Anyone with information that could be helpful to the investigation can contact Sgt. John Cochran of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit at 856-225-8826. Tips may also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.

  • Five South Jersey municipalities agree to settlement in class-action lawsuit over vacant property fees

    Five South Jersey municipalities agree to settlement in class-action lawsuit over vacant property fees

    Five Camden County towns could owe some current and former property owners more than half a million dollars collectively as part of a proposed settlement in a class-action lawsuit involving vacant and abandoned properties.

    The case alleges that the vacant and abandoned property registration programs previously operated in Barrington, Bellmawr, Runnemede, Voorhees, and Gloucester Township violated New Jersey law. These programs were in place largely to prevent blight by funding the town’s upkeep of vacant properties, but the suit alleges that for a time, the towns were collecting fees unlawfully.

    Many of the property owners who were forced to pay fees to these programs had never actually abandoned or vacated their homes, the suit alleges, and the towns unlawfully earned a revenue from these fees as a result.

    The settlement proposes a fund of about $545,600. The amount contributed by each town varies based on the total amount collected through program fees, said Stephen DeNittis, an attorney representing plaintiffs in the case.

    Here is how much each town will have to pay if the settlement is approved:

    • Gloucester Township: $280,000
    • Runnemede Borough: $111,300
    • Voorhees Township: $94,120.43
    • Bellmawr Borough: $33,932.50
    • Barrington Borough: $26,271.57

    Because it is a class-action lawsuit, the proposed settlement still needs to be approved by a court, DeNittis said.

    A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14, and if preliminary approval is granted, notices will be sent out within 30 days informing other potential claimants of the case and providing instructions on how to file a claim if they paid into their town’s vacant property program between 2018 and 2022.

    Claimants can file for a simple refund of $200, or they could receive 60% of the total amount they paid into the program if they can provide sufficient documentation and proof of payment, DeNittis said.

    As part of the settlement, the towns do not admit any liability or wrongdoing.

    Officials with both Voorhees Township and Runnemede Borough independently declined to comment on the case, saying they do not publicly discuss litigation. The other municipalities named in the lawsuit did not respond to a request for comment.

    Assuming the court grants preliminary approval of the settlement in August, DeNittis said, a final approval hearing will likely be held later this fall.

  • In a reversal, New Jersey now says Pennsylvania residents should register their e-bikes in New Jersey if visiting

    In a reversal, New Jersey now says Pennsylvania residents should register their e-bikes in New Jersey if visiting

    Pennsylvanian e-bikers headed to the Shore, get ready for your appointment with New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission.

    In a reversal, the state agency now says out-of-state residents should register their e-bikes in New Jersey in order to legally ride them in New Jersey.

    Earlier, MVC spokesperson William Connolly said New Jersey would not be registering out-of-state e-bikes and that visitors should follow the law in their home states.

    But now the MVC says that because New Jersey is the only state that requires e-bikes to be registered, out-of-state e-bikers should follow New Jersey’s law.

    That means out-of-state riders need to make an appointment at the MVC when they visit, which starts by filling out a registration form.

    Connolly says as of July 28, New Jersey had issued 9,410 e-bike registrations; of those, 182 were for out-of-state residents.

    “MVC is now offering to register e-bikes for out-of-state residents so that they can lawfully ride their bikes in NJ,” Connolly said in a statement e-mailed to the Inquirer.

    ”Out-of-state visitors who are sixteen or older can also rent a low-speed e-bike from rental companies operating under a contract with a local government, which is an exception to the registration requirement under the e-bike law.”

    Properly registered e-bikes will display a sticker issued by the MVC.

    The law has caused confusion among riders, bike-shop owners, and law enforcement since its adoption in January. After a six-month grace period, the state went into enforcement mode July 19.

    The law requires all riders to wear helmets, forbids riders under the age of 15, and requires insurance for higher-speed classified electric bikes. The classification for basic e-bikes is for pedal-assisted electric bicycles with a maximum speed of 20 mph.

    Out-of-state riders without a driver’s license are not permitted to ride an e-bike in New Jersey, according to the Motor Vehicle Commission, which has been embroiled in a national controversy since it was revealed that thousands of non-U.S. citizens were automatically registered to vote while obtaining driver’s licenses in New Jersey.

    For non-New Jersey e-bikers, the process for e-bike registration will be the same as for residents, but out-of-staters can use out-of-state proof of identification and register the e-bike with an out-of-state address.

  • 🎸 Gully’s vs. Avalon Boro | Down the Shore

    🎸 Gully’s vs. Avalon Boro | Down the Shore

    “More boring by a mile?” That was the assessment of one Facebook user after Avalon shut down a live music gig at Gully’s by the band Three and One, shortly after 8 p.m. on July 17.

    Someone complained about the noise, and Avalon police arrived on Dune Drive outside Gully’s, the lively new bar and restaurant that serves a Craig LaBan-approved “clothesline of candied bacon that dangles over a tasty plate of grits.”

    There was a flurry of outrage on Facebook and at a recent council meeting, along with despair over the state of the upscale town’s vibe, echoing last year’s angst over the Union League’s purchase of the Whitebrier.

    Neighbors on 27th Street, meanwhile, tried to explain they weren’t against Gully’s — or even live music — but that the noise from the outdoor patio, either from live bands or amplified games like the Monday minnow races, were a “disruptive intrusion,” up and down the block.

    It turns out that all of Avalon’s liquor licenses contain a special condition that permits outdoor music between noon and 8 p.m. Gully’s is now appealing that restriction through the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, arguing that it’s arbitrary and capricious, and an abuse of Avalon’s discretion. The town has indicated it wants to be reasonable and figure out a solution. One council member spoke of his love for Gully’s and said, “We do appreciate your business and what you’ve done there.”

    I wrote about the Gully’s vs. Avalon controversy here.

    Have a listen to Three and One here, or check them out again this Friday at Gully’s, with a new daytime slot: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    📮 Do you think it’s reasonable for Avalon to limit outdoor music at bars to between noon and 8 p.m.? Or should businesses be given more leeway to thrive during the summer? How much say should people who live near commercial establishments have, especially during the summer? Let me know what you think by replying to this email, and I’ll include your most interesting responses in a future newsletter.

    Have ideas or news tips, memories or pet peeves about the Shore? Send them to me here.

    🫨 It’s been another crazy week of storms, but the weekend looks decent.

    — Amy S. Rosenberg (Follow me @amysrosenberg, on Instagram at @amysrosenberg. 📧 Email me here.)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Sign up for our text group, The Shore Line.

    Shore talk

    🔥 A fire and flooding at Ocean Casino shut down gambling operations for a day.

    💃🏼 Shakira closed out her World Cup Tour in Atlantic City.

    👑 LeBron James merch is already available down the Shore.

    🏄🏻‍♀️ Dept. of History: How surfing came to the Jersey Shore.

    ⚾ We miss Splash, the mascot. A look back at Surf Stadium.

    🚨 Wildwood Crest lifeguard’s vehicle hits beachgoer.

    🇮🇪 Derry Girls creator’s next project will be about a group of Irish girls who come to Wildwood.

    What to eat/What to do

    🎨 The 25th annual Art of Surfing is Saturday on the Ocean City boardwalk.

    🎭 Pretty Woman: The Musical is at Surflight Theatre on Long Beach Island.

    🎡 The St. Francis Festival of the Sea is on Brant Beach.

    📖 Reed’s Farm is hosting a book group Saturday morning. The book is The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Why cook? Hire Instagram-famous private chef Keegan McManus. Or order delicious meal prep from Ventnor’s Chef G.

    🎥 Check out The Odyssey on the A.C. Boardwalk at Tropicana’s IMAX Theatre.

    Shore snapshot

    The band Three and One packs up at Gully’s in Avalon shortly after 8 p.m. July 17, 2026, after a noise complaint. The liquor licenses issued by Avalon to bars prohibits live music after 8 p.m., but Gully’s has appealed that restriction to the state N.J. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The band was scheduled to play until 10 p.m.Kate Nunan

    🧠 Trivia time

    Lots of love for the Bongo Room, which was the Avalon bar that closed 39 years ago this summer and featured the Greaseband on Sunday nights. Betsy Strittmatter was first with the answer.

    This week:

    This legendary Ventnor ice cream and water ice shop’s recipes — particularly its black cherry water ice — continue on in another location, the North Beach Creamery.

    Are the recipes originally from:

    A. Custard’s Last Stand

    B. Springer’s

    C. Willow’s Way

    D. Mento’s

    If you think you know the answer, email us here. First one gets a shout-out.

    More of your thoughts on: Sea Isle and the changing Shore

    In response to my story about changes and upscaling in Sea Isle City, Down the Shore reader Nancy Bucher came to the Shore town’s defense.

    As a retiree I find it magical to live here year round. Sea Isle truly is a City for All Seasons! Yes, people sold their quaint cottages and they are now replaced by 6 bedroom homes. But is that so bad? Large extended families get to enjoy a taste of beach life for a week or two, families get to bond, cousins get to play together and we all happily co-exist. Yes, some people have beautiful multimillion dollar homes …. but is that so bad? Our restaurants and shops stay prosperous and our town is thriving. Sure, we need more parking, but if people are honest, it is mainly in the busy summer season. We need more trees? Look around people, there are new young trees planted every year and right now the Crepe myrtles are blooming beautifully. Personally I applaud the growth and embrace the change and credit our community leaders for keeping our shoreline pristine and our beaches replenished!

    Reader Joseph Higgins brings us back down to earth.

    All of the shore towns are out pricing blue collar workers. My parents bought a trailer for $30,000 in 2000 outside of Wildwood Crest in Shawcrest. The land rental fees have climbed from $3,000 to $7,900 per year. The trailer next door is currently listed for $275,000 with land rental fees of $11,400. The working man’s shore vacation spot is quickly disappearing.

    Ask Down the Shore:

    We put the dress code question to our Shore Line text group (still time to join us here). There was a deluge of responses!

    Here’s a quick sample:

    “Down the shore everything’s alright.” Sure it’s OK to wear beach attire (not sandy though, and do brush ur hair 😉)”

    “I don’t care how much money you have. Make an effort, for the sake of the restaurant staff and other guests, to put on clean shorts and a polo for men and a cute cover up/sundress for women. If you can’t do that, then there’s always takeout.”

    “Some people, when they come to the beach, lose or abandon their sense of propriety. Decent, casual attire respects the restaurant and other diners.”

    Your Shore memory

    My sampling of Ocean City pizza triggered this memory from Susan Carlbaugh.

    As a Roxborough girl who lives in Baltimore now, reading your tribute to pizza on Ocean City’s boardwalk hit every nostalgia button possible! In my teen years, our friend ran the rides in Wonderland and that saved our cash for the rest of the night including the slice of pizza. Life was good!

    We knew it as “Mack” & Manco’s and it was always a stop on our night on the boardwalk. After waiting for my Grandma to get out of the Music Pier’s nightly performance, and before we left the ‘boards, it included a nightcap of fresh-squeezed orange juice from Litterer’s!

    Alex’s was our Roxborough home pizza shop. I can smell all of them right now. You are bringing tears to my eyes!

    Thanks Susan! You never know what will trigger a touching memory. There’s still time to send us your Shore memory, pizza or otherwise! Tell us how the Shore taps into something deep for you, and we will publish them in this space.


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  • And then a federal judge weighed in | Inquirer South Jersey

    And then a federal judge weighed in | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. Despite those Tuesday storm warnings, not much ended up happening, weather-wise.

    One day after Gov. Mikie Sherrill refused to turn over information about the thousands of noncitizens who were mistakenly registered to vote to the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from President Donald Trump’s administration to obtain the state’s unredacted voter records.

    And after trying to fend off speculations about a closure since May, Cherry Hill’s Brio Italian Grille officially shut its doors.

    Plus, an employee at Camden’s EMR scrapyard was impaled by a blow torch while on the job, and more news of the day.

    — Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Sherrill vs. the DOJ

    A U.S. District judge ruled Wednesday that the Department of Justice does not have the authority to force New Jersey to give up its unredacted records.

    The DOJ tried to use as leverage New Jersey’s disclosure last week that thousands of noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote because of a software glitch in the motor vehicle system. It didn’t work.

    The federal case predates last week’s news, and the ruling came one day after Sherrill formally told the DOJ that she would not release personal information about the noncitizens who were improperly registered.

    What’s next? The Trump administration will likely appeal the case.

    The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider and Abraham Gutman have the story.

    Closed (for real this time)

    It’s pretty empty inside the building that was the Brio Italian Grille in Cherry Hill.

    A sign on the restaurant entrance reads: “We have made the difficult decision to permanently close our Brio location in Cherry Hill. We are grateful for the opportunity to have served this community and are committed to supporting our team members during this transition.”

    The abrupt closure comes after staff emphasized that it was still open as recently as last month. Rumors about the restaurant shutting its doors have been swirling since May.

    Could a steakhouse take over the space?

    Reporter Lacey Latch has the latest.

    What to know today

    • A worker at EMR Scrapyard in Camden was critically injured after being impaled by a blow torch while breaking down a crane for scrap metal. This incident took place less than a week after the company reopened after a series of fires.
    • A guard at a federal prison in Fort Dix had a sexual relationship with a prisoner for about a year, according to federal authorities. She was charged this week with sexual abuse of a person in custody.
    • A Camden man was arrested after a K-9 dog found a phone allegedly used to solicit explicit photos from a 7-year-old girl, according to Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAuley.
    • An incarcerated man in Trenton is suing the state to block corrections officials from forcing prisoners to give up their purchased tablet electronics. The civil rights lawsuit comes after the state Department of Corrections switched communications tech providers. The new company does not allow prisoners to buy tablets outright and instead provides loaners for free, but requires a subscription model to use their content, New Jersey Monitor reports.
    • Award-winning former Inquirer photojournalist Akira Suwa of Laurel Springs, 84, died at his home this month due to complications from dementia. In addition to his photography, he is known for his mentorship, as well as his lifelong love of gardening.
    • Eighteen new restaurants opened in the region this summer, including three sports bars in Gloucester Township, Mount Emphraim, and Barrington.

    🗓️ The best things to do this week

    🎄 Oaklyn Final Fridays: This monthly street festival features food, live music, and a variety of vendors. This upcoming Friday, get in the festive spirit and celebrate a belated Christmas in July. ⏰ Friday, July 31, 4:30-9 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 West Clinton Avenue, Oaklyn

    🎤 Friday Night Live Music at Wenonah Lake: Hear from musical acts Lost Art, Arthur Herrmann, and Nonsense Maneuver. ⏰ Friday, July 31, 5 p.m 💵 $8 (cash only), free with membership 📍 North Jefferson Avenue and West Maple Street, Wenonah

    🕺 80s and 90s Party: Indulge in nostalgia with throwback hip hop and R&B music and dance the night away. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 1, 6-10 p.m. 💵 $24.71 📍 Vera, Cherry Hill

    See more event listings here.

    🧠 Trivia time

    There’s an upcoming comedy in development at FX that will be set at the Shore. Which town?

    A) Atlantic City

    B) Wildwood

    C) Point Pleasant

    D) Asbury Park

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🎶 Listening to: WRTI’s Beethoven curated playlist for LeBron James.

    📚 Reading: University of Pennsylvania professor Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey after her scathing review of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation.

    🎣 Fishing at: Mantua Creek.

    Thanks for reading, and have a great day. ☀️

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.