HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER, ED HURST, RECALLS HIS YEARS ON 100TH BIRTHDAY OF AC'S STEEL PIER

After retiring from a 62-year broadcasting career in radio and TV in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, Hall of Famer, Ed Hurst of Margate, recalled what he hailed "as among my greatest years on AC's Steel Pier (radio station WFPG) and weekly TV show on the pier." The occasion for recounting this Atlantic City native's local career was an HM interview on the Steel Pier's recent 100th anniversary celebration. At age 16, Hurst said he was a DJ on WFPG and played the music heard throughout the pier, emanating from a booth at the Boardwalk entrance of the famous attraction. He was an ACHS junior when he launched his radio career, and after a hitch in the Navy during World War II, Hurst first went to Miami's WIOD radio and in '46 left there for Philly, teaming up with Joe Grady to form the Grady-Hearst duo, which dominated the Quaker City airwaves for many years. He then switched to Wilmington's TV Channel 12 and then to Philly's WPVI-TV and his weekly "Summertime on the Steel Pier" Saturday show plus other TV shows. Hurst was a "shoo-in" into Philadelphia's "Broadcast Hall of Fame." He retired in 2006 and enjoys his golden years in Margate with his beloved wife, Cissy. At one time, Ed was an avid golfer. He and Grady ruled Philly airwaves from 1958 to 1978 and in 1989 were recognized as "personalities" of the year. "I paid my dues," Hurst proudly proclaimed and Margate is proud to have such a luminary as a heralded resident.

FROM BETH JUDAH PULPIT, RABBI GABER ON "BIKKUR CHOLIM," CHAZZAN SMOLEN ON POPE'S U.S. VISIT

Rabbi Aaron Gaber, invoking the spirit of "visiting the sick" (Bikkur Cholim) writes in his monthly Messenger column: "Hope is a gift we bring when we visit the sick and by visiting them we let the person know they are not forgotten and they are not alone," and he continued, "in many cases we brighten their day and give them a glimpse at the future and whether we discuss future plans or the activities of our children or even weather, we let them know that people care." Gaber directs his message to the entire Jewish community not just BJ members. Hazzan Alan Smolen was greatly impressed by Pope Benedict XVI's first visit of any Pope to a synagogue in the U.S. for a Shabbat evening before Pesach at the Park East Synagogue in NYC. Smolen was also impressed with Benedict's Mass at Yankee Stadium, which he watched on TV like most of us in our Jewish community: "I was quite impressed with how prepared the participants were and how polished was the presentation, " as we all were, by a modern thinking Papal leader who seems comfortable with other faiths including Judaism.

'KEY INGREDIENTS' OF WOODBINE HERITAGE CO-SPONSORS GARDEN STATE PRODUCTS STARTING JULY 19

An exhibit known as "Key Ingredients- America By Food," tells us that New Jersey still reigns as the Garden State. And such products as cranberries, blueberries, our famous Jersey tomatoes, and sweet corn and other home grown veggies and fruits will be on display with the help of the Sam Azeez Woodbine Heritage Museum. These agricultural products can be seen at the Woodbine Elementary School starting July 19 continuing until Aug. 30. Other co-sponsors are the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanity Councils, also the N.J. Council for the Humanities. Azeez Museum Executive Director Jane Stark tells HM that, "Woodbine's long and deep ties to agricultural history in the state was the key ingredient for the community to be selected as host for the traveling Smithsonian exhibit," adding, "Woodbine was the home of the Baron DeHirsch School of Agriculture, the very first state agricultural school in New Jersey and we have to recall, it was the prime area for settlement of Russian Jewish immigrants." Stark can be contacted at 646-9600.

RNS SHOW HOUSE CHAIR, JULIE REESES, PREDICTS A SUCCESSFUL RUN STARTING JULY 12

"Each year the Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Fund is hopeful that we will raise the funds through our annual Show House at the Shore to support our area hospitals," declared chairman Julie Reeses. They are AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Shore Memorial, Bacharach Institute and Cape Regional Medical Center. And she declared, "in this our 17th year 'Seabright on Rumson' conveniently located off the Margate Parkway will be another spectacular exhibition of interior designed rooms featuring distinctive décor and furnishings, decorative painting and outdoor living spaces; we are proud of RNS's 47 year success of raising over $11-million."