Step it up Moms!

If your Mom is the athletic type who enjoys a challenge rather than pampering on Mother’s Day, the Absecon Lighthouse is offering all mothers the chance to climb the lighthouse for free.

The lighthouse press release says, “If your family is looking for a memorable way to tell Mom she’s the light of your life, then bring her to Absecon Lighthouse this Saturday or Sunday, May 8 and 9, because dear old Abby is treating Mothers to a free climb this weekend.” The hours are 11am to 4pm, with the last climb at 3:30pm.

The lighthouse is located at 31 S. Rhode Island Ave. in Atlantic City. For more information about Absecon Lighthouse and its programs call 449-1360 or visit them on the web.

Absecon Lighthouse’s annual golf tournament to benefit educational programs for children will be held Friday, June 4, at McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links in EHT.

The golf package is $100 per person and includes green fees and cart, lunch, embroidered hat, tee package, prizes, awards banquet, and a future round of discounted golf at McCullough’s.

“Awards Party” sponsorship is $1,000, lunch sponsorship is $500, and hole sponsorship is $100. Dinner-only tickets are available for $30. Registration starts at 11:30am and a shotgun start is at noon.

For information and to confirm your spot for the tournament call Lou Paludi, president of the Inlet Public/Private Association, at 609-484-0600, or the lighthouse at 609-449-1360.

Historic landmarks such as Absecon Lighthouse are finding themselves under a financial cloud in the current economy and looking for ways to bring in some donations. So, what’s the best way to raise a little interest? It’s obvious — throw a celebrity fashion show. OK, maybe it’s not that obvious on the surface, but Absecon Lighthouse has been throwing a charity fashion show for about four years now and will partner with The Walk for their latest show, a Happy Hour Celebrity Fashion Show, Friday (April 23), at the Atlantic City Country Club. “When news came out earlier this year about our financial woes,” says Jean Muchanic, executive director of the lighthouse, “a lot of people called us and asked how they could help. Well, this is the type of fund-raising event that really can help us. Just by buying a ticket, coming and having a good time, that really gives us a great boost.” And a good time is promised, especially considering that the fashions will be modeled by local celebs such as Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford, Michelle Dawn Mooney of NBC-40, Don Marandino of Harrah’s Entertainment, Barbara Altman of WOND 1400 and Kim Butler of Atlantic City Outlets – The Walk, Tickets are $30 and include fashions by The Walk, appetizers by Atlantic City Country Club, a silent auction, and cash bar. All proceeds benefit Absecon Lighthouse’s educational programs for children. Call 449-1360 to reserve your spot. — Mike Pritchard

Jim Craine and the Atlantic City All Stars

The City of Atlantic City, in partnership with the Steel Pier, will hold the resort’s annual Best Dressed Contest on the Steel Pier at Virginia Avenue and the Boardwalk, starting 2pm on Easter Sunday, April 4. Read more about all the details here.

Absecon Lighthouse

The New Jersey lighthouses and select affiliated museums will host a “Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey” scheduled for the weekend of October 16-17.
Visitors will enjoy the opportunity to tour the state and visit each lighthouse over the weekend, and help raise funds for continued lighthouse preservation. Hours of operation for each lighthouse can be found by going here or here.
Night climbs will also be offered at Absecon, Barnegat, Cape May, Sandy Hook, Tinicum and Tuckerton Seaport lighthouses during the Challenge.

Whatever lighthouse you choose to begin your journey on the Challenge, a tri-fold souvenir pamphlet will be available for purchase for $1. As you visit each lighthouse your souvenir will be stamped as proof of each visit. This will be your souvenir to commemorate your participation in the event. The lighthouses encourage the public to take advantage of this special weekend to financially support and preserve the maritime history of our state as we face the same economic challenges as other sectors of commerce.

The time has come to discover if Absecon Lighthouse is home to ghostly keepers that still watch over the shore in Atlantic City. The Lighthouse will be hosting a public showing of their Ghost Hunters’ episode on Wednesday, March 24, at House of Blues Foundation Room complete with first-person accounts of the paranormal activity at the lighthouse, tasty light bites, cash bar and a chance to win some authentic Ghost Hunters swag.
Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm. New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse sent an invitation to The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) to explore the rich, historical site after experiencing some strange phenomena. Perhaps the earliest recorded story of paranormal activity dates back to 1905 when a newspaper article was printed about the Jersey Devil being seen by the head lighthouse keeper at the top of the 171-foot tower. Since the Inlet Public-Private Association renovated the lighthouse tower, rebuilt the keeper’s cottage and re-opened to visitors, several volunteers have shared stories of being alone on the property but hearing footsteps, smelling smoke and even seeing a few ghostly apparitions.
TAPS conducted their investigation and revealed their findings to the lighthouse staff only. Now is your chance to experience the Absecon Lighthouse as you’ve never experienced it before. Tickets are just $20 and proceeds benefit Absecon Lighthouse’s
Educational Programs. Please call 609-449-1360 for more information.

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.

Absecon Lighthouse is hosting An Evening of Romance and Renewal on Saturday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 14, from 7-10pm. Couples choose which evening suits their romantic schedule, and then indulge!
Make-out with the one you love in the lighthouse tower — catered aphrodisiacs await you on each level as you climb. Dance to romantic tunes by renowned DJ Ron Champion. Treasure a professional 5- by 7-inch photograph keepsake by wedding specialist John DeMaio. Toast with champagne and soft spirits, and share chocolate covered strawberries by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
For married couples, an on-site minister will perform a group wedding-vow-renewal at 8:30pm. Absecon Lighthouse is a proud member of the AC GLBT Alliance and invites all couples to this romantic evening.
Tickets for this memorable event are just $125 per couple. A room and ticket package is available with the Chelsea Hotel for just $250 per couple. You are invited to make a reservation by calling the lighthouse at 609-449-1360.
Absecon Lighthouse is located at 31 S. Rhode Island Ave. in Atlantic City, and is open to visitors Thursday through Monday from 11am-4pm.
For more information about Absecon Lighthouse and its programs call 609-449-1360 or go here. — Kelley Anne Essinger

Join artist Donna Elias (left) at the Absecon Lighthouse, 31 South Rhode Island Avenue in Atlantic City, for the closing date of her 20th anniversary Great American Lighthouses Celebration Tour. The show is free and will take place this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, in light rain or shine from 10am to 5pm.
One of the top lighthouse artists in the country, Donna will present a spectacular assortment of her beach art and Great American Lighthouses Collections. This show is one of the many special events that are part of the 10th Anniversary NJ Lighthouse Challenge — the most popular statewide lighthouse festival in America. Some of her work will only be on display, and some will be for sale. Contact Les Kammerman at348-5826 for more.

Renowned musician and photographer John Mock will present his unique multimedia maritime concert presentation “From The Shoreline” at Absecon Lighthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7pm. Tickets are $35 and include the concert, soft spirits and light snacks. For more info on tickets, call 609-449-1360 or go here.
A composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, John Mock’s work has taken him around the world. He has worked on stage and in the studio with such notable artists as the Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Nanci Griffith, Maura O’Connell, Sylvia, Kathy Mattea and Mark O’Connor. Recently, Mock’s focus has shifted to his career as a solo artist and photographer. A native of Connecticut’s eastern shore, John grew up on the ocean and often spent nights playing on the Long Island Sound ferry boat his father captained. He captures in music and in photographs the heritage of the sea.  “From The Shoreline” combines his music, performed on guitar, concertina and whistle, with his fine art photography of the scenes upon which the music is based.