Join Hearts Afire Radio Show Hosts Carl and Martie Granieri as they welcome special guests Don Williams, Barbara Altman, Michele Dawn Mooney of NBC TV 40, Political VIPs and people of Good Will from churches and organizations from all over South Jersey to an uplifting musical event to benefit the earthquake victims in Haiti.
The show will broadcast live on WOND Radio, 1400AM from 1- 6 pm on Sunday, March 14, from the Ocean City Music Pier. It will feature the 100 Voice Hearts Afire Inter-Denominational Praise Choir and 10-piece Praise Band, made up of musicians and singers from the casino showrooms of Atlantic City. It is sponsored by Tropicana Hotel Casino.
All proceeds go directly to Food for the Poor, a Miami-based U.S. non-profit that has been on the ground in Haiti for 25 years and receives annually the highest ratings possible for efficiency and reliability. With only four percent operating costs, 96 percent of every dollar goes right to those in need. Donations are being accepted 24 hours per day by clicking here.

On Saturday, March 20, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) will celebrate the International Day of the Seal. Visitors may stop by the MMSC between the hours of 10am and 2pm to tour the facility, enjoy activities for children and visit their museum/gift shop.
The tour includes displays of how seals live in the wild and the equipment used by MMSC stranding technicians for rescue. You will also learn about the many types of seals and other aquatic animals that are cared for at the center. Kids activities include demonstrations of how seals stay warm in cold water, feeling their soft fur and making a seal mask to take home.
For more information, go here or call the MMSC at (609) 266-0538.
The MMSC is located at 3625 Atlantic-Brigantine Blvd. in Brigantine, just across the street from Prudential, Fox and Roach Realtors and just before the Lighthouse Circle on the left (heading north).

The fifth annual Lines on the Pines book-signing event will be held at the Vienna Inn/Christina’s Restaurant at 920 W. White Horse Pike, Galloway on Sunday, March 14, from 1-4pm. This event is free and open to the public, with authors on hand to sign books, which will be available to purchase on site. Other items for sale include pottery, carnivorous plants, hand woven articles, crafts, CDs, DVDs, paintings and photographs. Sorry, there are no credit card sales. The event is sponsored once again by “It’s a Sign of the Pines” and the Medford-based Plexus Publishing, Inc. Call 965-0457.
The event will include several notable authors. Budd Wilson of Green Bank, an archeologist who did most of the early digs at Historic Batsto Village and Martha Furnace, will also be there, as will representatives s of such groups as Historic Whitesbog Village, the N.J. Audubon Society, the N.J. Pinelands Commission, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Wharton State Forest.
A family style dinner will be offered starting at 4:30pm for $33 per person — prepayment and reservations are required — and will include presentations on the ABCs of the Pine Barrens and live music. The guest host will be Paul W. Schopp, a local historian and author. — Garrett Burrell

The New Jersey Marine Science Consortium is hosting its third annual New Jersey’s Top 10 Beaches survey. Wildwood took first place in 2008 followed by Ocean City in 2009. Now it’s your job to vote for the shore community you think best fits your lifestyle and deserves bragging rights in 2010!  There are 48 shore communities represented, from Sandy Hook to Cape May, and four categories to rate from including: Family Destination, Day Trips, Ecotourism and Shore Events. Go here to cast your vote for your favorite beach. Voting will take place until midnight on Friday, April 30. The results will be presented during the NJMSC’s annual State of the Shore Media Event, which will take place on Thursday, May 27, just before the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of the summer season. – Kelley Anne Essinger

The Atlantic County Animal Shelter was the recipient of many special items from the proceeds of a recent wine tasting event held at Sofia in Margate.
Sofia Papastamelos, Angela Diamantis and Atlantic County Freeholder Alisa Cooper sponsored the elaborate wine tasting event with proceeds designated to benefit the shelter. The shelter is funded by Atlantic County Government and provides excellent care and housing for the cats and dogs, however this event was sponsored to purchase additional items that the shelter needed.
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Monopoly, the board game based on Atlantic City’s 1930s neighborhoods, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. But if the game were constructed today, it would look much different.

According to a feature on dailyfinance.com, Baltic, one of Monopoly’s two cheapest properties, borders the Sheraton Hotel, which charges $170 to $259 a night, making it one of the more costly locations in Atlantic City. Even the Pacific/Rhode Island Avenue region, which includes all three of Monopoly’s bargain-priced light-blue properties, is among the city’s most valuable areas.

Some of Monopoly’s streets don’t even exist in today’s city as Illinois Avenue is now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and St. Charles Place has been torn down and replaced with the Showboat casino.

Monopoly also imitates a past era of public transportation. By 1987 all of four of its railroads had been surpassed by Atlantic City’s plethora of bus and train choices.

To get a more complete summary of the differences between Monopoly’s 1930s rendition of Atlantic City and today’s actual rendition, click here.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

The Hard Rock Cafe in Atlantic City has a lot going on right now. We thought we’d let you know.

But first! Until March 26 you have a chance to win an awesome Hard Rock Atlantic City T-shirt and pin featuring The Who. Enter the acweekly.com contest here.

OK, now for the live music and stuff. Following next Saturday’s (Feb. 27) Further concert at the Taj, there will be an after-party presented by 103.7 The Shark starting at 10pm, featuring a Jerry Garcia Art Show & Sale, live music from Steal Your Face Band and plenty of Deadhead action we’re sure. The show hours are Saturday, Feb. 27, noon-2am, and Sunday, Feb 28. 11am-6pm. The Web addresses are: www.imagemakersart.com and  www.stealyourfaceband.com.

More music … In March, the Hard Rock Atlantic City will be having free live music each Friday night from 9-11pm. The music actually kicks off this Friday, Feb. 19, with the band Ready in 10.

The March series includes the following bands: March 5 (Surrounded by Idiots), March 12 (Static Addiction), March 19 (The Northbound Train) and March 25 (3 Noodle Stew). The March series, dubbed March on Stage 2010, will help to raise funds for the non-profit organization Musicians on Call. The series is presented by local radio stations The Shark 103.7 and WJSE Rocks. The concerts are free, but money will be raised for this org,

A very worthy cause, a lot of live music and tons of fun. Can’t beat it. Don’t forget to enter to win a T-shirt and pin featuring The Who!

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s 15th annual Have a Heart for Hunger Chance Auction is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, at the Shore Mall in Egg Harbor Township. Doors open at noon for a prize preview and ticket sales. The prize drawings take place 1:30-6pm. The entry fee is $5 and includes refreshments.
Presented by AtlantiCare, the hospital will hold a mini-health fair. Michelle Dawn Mooney from NBC-TV 40 and David Allen Pratt from WTKU radio will emcee this day-long event. Auction items include electronics, appliances, entertainment packages, home décor, fashion accessories, toys, sporting goods and more.
“With the need at its highest in FoodBank history, we’re hoping to hit fundraising records to help us in our mission to fight hunger and poverty,” says Margie Barham, executive director of the CFB-Southern Branch, in a media release.
For more information call  (609) 383-8843 or go here.

Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey’s tallest and the country’s third tallest, is naming March, “Climb for Our Cause!”  month. For just a $7 admission to climb ($5 for seniors, $4 for children), you can help keep Absecon Lighthouse shining through a challenging financial crisis.  Absecon Lighthouse invites all residents of South Jersey to participate and make this campaign a roaring success. It is possible, through small increments, to raise funds —  one climb at a time. So, join us for a climb in March and have a blast as you get exercise, see the best views of Atlantic City, and support a worthy cause. For more information call  (609)449-1360 or go here. The lighthouse is located at  31 So. Rhode Island Ave. in Atlantic City, and is open to visitors Thursdays through Mondays, 11am-4pm.

On Tuesday, Feb.16, the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association (GACCA) and the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority Foundation (ACCVAF) teamed up to host a charity wine tasting/art show at the Carisbrooke Inn Bed & Breakfast in Ventnor. The inaugural fundraising event was held to help award scholarships to hospitality majors at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey or Atlantic Cape Community College.

The initial goal was to provide enough funding for two scholarships, but due to the overwhelming response to the event four scholarships will now be awarded with the presentation taking place at the Atlantic City Hosts Awards on May 12 at Historic Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom.

Over 80 people attended the fundraiser, enjoying the food, wine and atmosphere as well as a display of six local artists’ works ranging from pottery to serene beach scenes. The participating artists were Chris Ford, Steve Kuzma, William McKensie, Marie Natale, Sue Van Duyne and Michael Waters.

GACCA and ACCVAF would also like to thank the following sponsors for their contributions: Donna Albano, Craig Puchalsky, Donna Vassallo, B.F. Mazzeo Fruit & Produce, Carisbrooke Inn Bed & Breakfast, Ovations Food Service and Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. — Jon Heacock