SOLAR PANELS ATOP BETH EL SYNAGOGUE WILL HELP LOWER ELECTRICAL COSTS

A brief ceremony recently marked installation of the first solar panel atop Margate’s Beth El Synagogue, with additional panels to be installed to help reduce electrical costs in a tight economy effecting many religious facilities. Beth El president Gerry Spanier in this month’s Megillah writes about efforts to control costs. “I want to emphasize that our synagogue, like most others, keeps running, serving, teaching and working for our members and our community by having the ready financial income and reserves to cover our costs ... And as the economy slows down, your board, has committed itself to reducing costs in many ways, to bring Beth El into the energy efficient ‘green’ world of running our electrical leads from the sun ... (and) to manage our natural gas usage for heat and hot water even more efficiently and to make widespread usage of high efficient fluorescent lamps in place of incandescent lamps.” HM congratulates Spanier and Beth El for this important energy step and hopes other synagogues will do the same.

SHELLEY AND BRIAN MEYERS’ SON, CHAD, EARNS HIGH HONOR BEFORE HIS IDF DISCHARGE

Just before his recent honorable discharge from the Israel Defense Force (IDF), Linwood resident

Chad Meyers received a high military honor as an “Exemplary Soldier” from the 932 Nahal Brigade’s 3,500 soldier’s outfit, an extremely high honor for a non-citizen volunteer. Chad, who returned home last week, saw duty in the Negev Desert, the Ezuz Crossing at the Israel/Gaza border and an extended tour at the northern Gaza/Israel border. Chad, 24, son of Brian and Shelley Meyers will pursue his masters degree in history education in the fall at West Virginia University from where – before his IDF experience – he graduated. This summer he will return as a lifeguard with the Margate Beach Patrol. Chad offered a positive view on his military experience: “It was great for a great cause not only to serve Israel but also here at home enhancing my Judaic commitment to the cause of freedom.” Chad is HM’s Honorable Mensch of this month.

8 COUNTY SCHOOLS RECEIVE ATLANTICARE GRANTS

At a recent event held at Steve and Cookie’s by the Bay, AtlantiCare Health Management awarded eight Atlantic County Schools grants of $1,500 each to establish and sustain gardens on their school campuses. Cookie Gill, owner of the Margate Bayfront restaurant and a leading area fundraiser for many worthy charities hosted the event at Margate’s Wm. Ross School. The training for the garden projects is directed by Richard Stockton College Professor of Anthropology and instructor and landscape architect, Joe Rubenstein (Ph.D.): “I believe every school should have a garden but I stress education and preparation are the keys to success and if you put a garden in your school you need to know how to tend it,” emphasized Till. “And we hope this training will be both fun and informative, and that attendees will leave with the tools they need to get their gardens started and sustained. “ Two of the schools are in Egg Harbor Twp., five in Atlantic City and one in Absecon. HM calls it a great project and a bold step to green our community.

COUNTY OFFERS BREAK TO RESIDENTS GOING TO WELLINGTON PLAZA WITH SHUTTLE SERVICE

A lucky break for residents of our Jewish community who are used to shopping at Pathmark, the Post Office and other stores in Wellington Plaza, is being offered by Atlantic County with a shuttle service from the Ventnor Heights side of the Dorset avenue bridge six times a day. The service was announced by County Executive Dennis Levinson and Administrator Jerry DelRosso. The bridge was closed to all general traffic except emergency vehicles and pedestrians on Feb. 4 for a major repair. But the shuttle deal was worked out with NJ Transit, with pickups at 8:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 12:10, 2:30 and 3:20 p.m. Monday through Friday until March 12 – and beyond if necessary until its reopening in mid-April. “We did this to accommodate residents who will be spared a long roundabout route via the Margate bridge or Albany avenue,” said Levinson. HM says a great and smart move by the county.

DAVID SCHWARTZ CONTINUES SERIES ON HISTORY OF AC CASINOS, THIS ONE ON THE ‘DONALD’ AND ‘ART OF THE DEAL’

Donald Trump is the undisputed holder of that title especially in the Atlantic City gaming industry. However, his involvement here has been a troubled one and still rages on with the confrontational battle between him and billionaire Carl Icahn for control of the three Trump casinos. Aside from that current battle, Trump’s development of the Trump Plaza wasn’t an easy one, writes David Schwartz from Las Vegas as he continues his series on histories of AC’s casinos. Schwartz, is a Casino Connection columnist and Atlantic City native,directs the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV and author of “Role the Bones: The History of Gambling.” For Trump to operate the Plaza, he needed a gaming expert to help him so he partnered with Harrah’s and the relationship became a troubled one, writes Schwartz. For the full story read it in the Casino Connection, it’s an intriguing tale.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

In our item last week on Linwood resident Marvin Davidson’s gala 85th birthday party in Florida, HM inadvertently omitted the name of Marvin’s niece, Jody Selkow. We apologize for the omission.