Atlantic County Flu Clinics

Flu shots work. I get one every year and find that I’ll get maybe one bad cold a season, usually about 11 months after getting my flu shot. The Atlantic County 2008 Public Flu Clinics schedule has been announced. Flu shots are available to residents 18 years and older for $15. Pneumonia shots are available for eligible residents age 65 and older for $25. There is no fee for Medicare Part B recipients who present their cards.
Here are some of the local stops; for a complete list, call 645-5933 or go here

Sat. Oct. 4 10am-noon
Atlantic Cape Community College gym
5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing

Wed. Oct. 15, 10am-noon
Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hall
Wabash Ave., Linwood

Thurs. Oct. 23, 10am-noon
St. Bernadette’s Church Hall
1421 New Road, Northfield

Tues. Oct. 28, 3-5pm
Egg Harbor Twp. Community Center
5045 English Creek Ave., EHT

Thurs., Nov. 6, 10am-noon
Pleasantville Recreation Center
400 W. Brighton Ave., Pleasantville

Wed., Nov. 12, 10am-noon
St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Hall
591 New Jersey Ave., Absecon

The conservator of the Tropicana Atlantic City Casino & Resort issued the following press release today regarding the sale of the Tropicana:

“TROPICANA CONSERVATOR PROVIDES UPDATE ON CORDISH PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE CASINO AND RESORT

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, September 29, 2008 – In response to inquiries from the media, Justice Gary S. Stein, the state-appointed trustee and conservator of the Tropicana Atlantic City Casino and Resort (the “Tropicana”), today released additional details concerning the proposal received from The Cordish Company (“Cordish”) concerning its proposal to purchase the Tropicana.

Proposals to purchase the Tropicana were due on September 15, 2008, and Cordish submitted its bid on that date, in accordance with the procedures set forth by the conservator and his investment banker, Moelis & Company. The Cordish bid provided two alternatives. One of the alternatives involved $700 million in cash and seller financing as follows: (i) $450 million in cash to the seller; and (ii) $250 million in subordinated notes issued to the seller by the buyer with a ten year maturity and a 10% coupon, payable-in-kind at the buyer’s option. The other alternative was an all-cash purchase for $575 million. In addition, Cordish informed Justice Stein that both alternatives contemplate an additional $100 million in capital expenditures that would be invested in the property subsequent to closing by the buyer.

After conducting a thorough auction process, Justice Stein and his investment banker selected the Cordish bid for a number of reasons, including the price and consideration offered, as well as Cordish’s capabilities and track record of success in gaming, real estate development, and management. Cordish has indicated to Justice Stein that it is prepared to complete its due diligence and move forward expeditiously. The transaction is subject to completion of a definitive asset purchase agreement (which is in process), approval of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, and various other conditions.

The Cordish Company is one of the largest real estate developers in the world with extensive expertise in gaming and lodging, entertainment and mixed-use projects, sports anchored developments, and retail, office and residential construction. Many of Cordish’s developments involve public/private partnerships, including The Walk in Atlantic City.

The Tropicana is one of the largest casino hotels in Atlantic City with 2,129 rooms and almost 140,000 square feet of gaming space. The complex is situated on approximately 14 acres of land with 220 yards of ocean frontage.”

Paul Newman might have been the perfect movie star. Not only was he talented and gorgeous, he was a great humanitarian and a loyal husband, married for 50 years to Joanne Woodward. When I heard at this year’s Toronto Film Festival that he was dying, I didn’t want to believe it.
I have a “Paul Newman” blouse in my closet. He attended the 1987 Toronto Film Festival with a film, The Glass Menagerie, starring Woodward that he directed. I bought a bright green blouse, hoping that at the massive press conference for the film, he might notice me in the crowd. Ridiculous, I know, but we all have our dreams. He was lovely and humble, by the way, at that press conference. And, while The Glass Menagerie is not near the top of his career list for outstanding films, there are plenty others that are.
Beyond the obvious choices, a couple of my favorites were from his early days, The Long Hot Summer (1958) and The Young Philadelphians (1959). In the former he played Ben Quick, a man running from his past, befriended by a rich man played by Orson Welles. It was his first film with his wife and the sparks fly in their love scenes. The Young Philadelphians is melodrama with a soap opera side about the rise of a young, ambitious lawyer. Newman’s character redeems himself when he defends a friend (Robert Vaughn) accused of murder in some terrific courtroom scenes. The cast also included Barbara Rush.

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If the Eagles are as good as we think they are, last night’s disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears on the road, 24-20, will fade from memory as just one of those speed bumps on the road to an excellent season. However, at the moment it looks like a squandered opportunity after the Washington Redskins did their job and upset the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas. Instead of being a half-game in back of the idle N.Y. Giants, the Eagles have put themselves in a 1.5 game hole in the NFC East cellar. With the return of the NFC East to prominence as the best conference in football in this wacky 2008-2009 season, being down by two losses is a bad place to be, even this early. After yesterday’s results, how confident are you about playing the Redskins next, especially if Westbrook is still on the sidelines?
As for Andy Reid’s excuse that he didn’t want to chance making Donovan McNabb’s chest injury worse by having him go for the sneak from the one-yard line, is this a frigging tea party or is it football? Let’s hope Andy doesn’t regret that mismanaged final drive when the season is over.

The band Tidal Wave provided the music for the 8th Annual Angel Night presented by the Christina Rush Foundation at the Flying Cloud Cafe tonight and helped Atlantic and Cape May county area women who are cancer patients.

Those in attendance enjoyed the music by the bay and tried their luck at the silent auction and some took home some great prizes!
Photos by Lew Steiner

My fellow shore residents love the beach and, like me, feel sad when the summer ends. However, there should also be excitement about the fall season in southern New Jersey. The Garden State is chock full of festivals in the fall, from my all time favorite, the Cranberry Festival in Chatsworth, to the annual Indian Summer Block Party in Ocean City, Oktoberfests in various locations, and a tribute to Atlantic City’s Hall of Fame baseball legend, John Henry “Pop” Lloyd. I’m planning my first trip ever to Long Beach Island next Sunday for Beach Haven’s annual Chowderfest. What shore resident doesn’t like a good chowder or two? Below are the details for some of these great fall activities.

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The Web site Marketwatch.com reports today that Tropicana Entertainment may try to block the recently-reported Cordish & Co. bid to purchase the Atlantic City casino.

Tropicana Entertainment CEO Scott Butera is reported as saying that the “purported price for the Atlantic City property understandably reflects a fire sale mentality on the part of prospective buyers who see an extraordinary opportunity in a depressed market, which creates a windfall at the expense of other innocent parties.”

Butera also reportedly said: “That’s why we have proposed working cooperatively with the New Jersey Casino Control Commission to assume control of the property. … By incorporating the Atlantic City operations into the Tropicana family, we expect to stabilize and improve operations and build a stronger, more financially healthy brand. In the end, we believe that our plan would maximize the Atlantic City assets in a way that a sale process cannot possibly achieve at this time.”

Our region might not be hosting the Toronto Film Festival, but in Wildwood and at the Towne 16 in EHT, independent film events take place starting tomorrow, Sept. 25.
The 2nd Annual Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival tkes place Sept. 25-28. The film festival is featuring three documentaries about three important subjects — children’s vaccinations (Vaccine Nation), second-hand smoke (The Pack) and post traumatic stress disorder (Soldier’s Heart). On the lighter side, the festival will present a film that honors Mario Lanza, who before he became a star of musical films, spent his summer vacations in Wildwood with his family. The festival also offers workshops for budding filmmakers. Other films being screened include War Eagles Arkansas starring Brian Dennehy and Mary Kay Place; David and Fatima, starring Tony Curtis and Martin Landau, and The Wages of Spin, a documentary about Dick Clark and other stars of the music industry. For a complete schedule and ticket info, go here.

For one day, Thursday, Sept. 25, the Frank’s Towne 16 will host a series of short films beginning at 7pm, from Emerald Productions, a South Jersey-based production company initiated by fellow Rowan University grads Ernie Rockelman and Kent Green.

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The Cordish Company, owners of The Walk, are taking a walk down the boardwalk in a bid to purchase The Tropicana. The casino has been under the direction of a trust, led by conservator Gary S. Stein, since December, when the Casino Control Commission voted not to renew the Trop’s casino license. The Casino Control Commission announced on Monday that the state-appointed trustee has entered into negotiations with The Cordish Company concerning its proposal to purchase the Tropicana for cash and securities of $700 million, a bargain price, but perhaps reasonable in the current quicksand nature of the economy.

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While Connecticut newspaper The Day reports today that “Mohegan Sun Will Halt Work At Expansion Site,” an op/ed published last week and written by the Casino Association of New Jersey’s president Joe Corbo discusses the effects of the current economy crunch on local casinos and the industry as a whole.
With both Pinnacle and MGM’s Atlantic City projects on hold, as well as industry competition from nearby states and other factors, Corbo notes that, “While our industry is enduring a challenging short term, the future is remarkably bright.”
In other related local development news, it was recently reported that things seem to be on track for Trump Marina to become Margaritaville and that the casino will stay open during the transformation process.