Raging Waters closed today; Piers open, noon-midnight

Raging Waters Waterpark at Mariner's Landing, scheduled to open for the season today, will remain closed due to chilly conditions.

At this time, the waterpark is scheduled to be open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday (Memorial Day).

All three Morey's amusement piers are scheduled to be open from noon - midnight today and tomorrow, and from noon - 10 p.m. on Monday.

Note that all hours of operation are subject to change due to weather and other conditions.

Check Morey's official Calendar for up-to-date info.

Boardwalk Cover-up: Wildwood ordinance aims to "foster a family-friendly atmosphere"

As reported by Christie Rotondo of The Wildwood Leader, an ordinance was proposed by Wildwood's commissioners last night that would impose a dress code of sorts on the Boardwalk.

The ordinance calls for shoes to be worn at all times and states that shirts must be worn after 8 p.m.

Also, officials intend to crack down (sorry, couldn't resist) on pants or skirts that ride below the waist.

A public hearing and possible adoption of the ordinance will be held at the city's next commissioners meeting - 5:30 p.m. on June 12th at City Hall.

So, what do you think? Is this a good idea?

Beyond that, is it reasonable to believe that these rules could be properly enforced?

We'd like to hear from you - leave a message here or join the conversation on Facebook...

Potito's Bakery holds grand opening at new location

Potito's Italian American Bakery, a renowned South Philly institution, officially opened its new location at 17th & Central Aves. in North Wildwood this morning.

The location is the former site of the Terminal Bakery, a longtime neighborhood favorite.

Photos courtesy of our friends at the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce...

 

 

The Wildwood Leader - Vol. 93, No. 18

This week's edition of The Wildwood Leader is now online. To view, click HERE or the cover image at left.

Top stories include...

*  Prospecutor, police fight dangerous trend

*  Wildwood mibsters shooting for championship

*  Final piece in place for boardwalk attraction

*  County prosecutor has cameras on Wildwood, OC 'walks

*  North Wildwood approves $3M land purchase

*  Big plans for Crest library

***

Follow The Leader on Facebook & Twitter!

MUST SEE: Vintage "Wildwoods By-the-Sea" promotional video

Are you ready for a real treat?

Sit back, relax, and take in this vintage Wildwoods promotional video, shot in beautiful color and narrated by longtime NBC radio announcer Hugh James.

Judging by some of the scenes - including a glimpse of Hunt's Pier's Jungleland - this was likely released around 1959-1960.

This is close to 15 minutes of pure Wildwood nostalgic GOLD.

See how many landmarks of the past you can pick out, and marvel at those amazing shots of the Boardwalk at night, pulsating with neon-fueled excitement!

A BIG tip of our cap to film/documentary restoration master Jeff Quitney for this upload.

"Wildwood Walks" Raises $119,000 for Type 1 Diabetes Research

Final tally could more than double projected goal

 

PRESS RELEASE
 

More than 3,000 people strode the Wildwoods Boardwalk Saturday morning, May 18, in support of 29 million Americans with Type 1 diabetes.

The 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes raised $119,000, well above the initial goal of $65,000, said Michael Block, co-chairman of the South Jersey Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). A final tally could more than double the projected goal.

“We’re thrilled,” Block said. “Seeing this many people is like a battery charge for me.”

“The City of Wildwood has been so generous to the JDRF,” added co-chair Kathleen Bianco. “From our first meeting with City officials, we agreed that Wildwood was where we wanted to hold this walk.”

Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano, who walked the 3-mile oceanfront route with his wife Donna, was gratified by the turnout. “It’s safe to say everyone knows somebody who has diabetes; this brings awareness to the disease and hopefully, someday there will a cure,” said Troiano. “We’re extremely proud to be able to host this.”

“Insulin is not a cure,” said10-year-old Jennifer of Gloucester County, diagnosed with the condition in 2010. Accompanied by her support team, Jennifer Rocks, she took the stage with an emotional Jack Morey, of Morey’s Piers, who revealed to participants he has suffered with the disease for 47 years.

“This is really overwhelming,” said Morey, looking out at the crowd gathered at Morey’s Adventure Pier. “I just never thought there would be this many people here, and I appreciate it.”

Each year, JDRF Walks are held in more than 200 cities worldwide, raising money to fund research and education with the goal of finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes.

The debilitating disease strikes children suddenly and makes them dependent on injected or pumped insulin for life. Despite advances in treatment, the condition can cause kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation, and costs the United States more than $174 billion in health care each year.

The JDRF contributes more than 80 cents from every dollar raised to medical research and education, and was named one of Forbes’ Top 5 All-Star Charities in 2012.

Donations are still being taken and will be added to the final tally. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.jdrf.org.

Crest's Summer Kickoff Concert to feature the Fabulous Greaseband on May 26th

PRESS RELEASE

The Fabulous Greaseband will perform at Centennial Park May 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Borough of Wildwood Crest’s annual Summer Kickoff Concert.

One of the longest-running and most popular bands in the Delaware Valley, the seven-member Fabulous Greaseband bills itself as a “Best of the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Band.”

This entertaining, high-energy band, which has been going strong for more than three decades, delivers some of the greatest dance and party songs ever written by some of the most popular artists of all time.

The Greaseband performs regularly all along the East Coast, particularly throughout the Delaware Valley, with well over 200 appearances annually. The band is among the most popular entertainers to perform at Centennial Park each year.

The Summer Kickoff Concert is a FREE all-ages show. Attendees should bring a blanket or a chair. Centennial Park is located at Fern Road and Ocean Avenue.

The weekly Wildwood Crest Summer Music Series will begin in late June. Centennial Park will feature live music shows each Wednesday and Saturday from June 26 through Labor Day weekend. The full schedule is available online at the borough’s tourism and special events web site at www.visitwildwoodcrest.com.

For more information, log on to the tourism and special events website or call (609) 523-0202.

Aaaarrrggghhh you ready for Captain Kidd Pirate Day tomorrow?

Pirate puns. We've got galleons of 'em.

Good thing, too, because the Captain has dropped anchor off the North Wildwood coast.

His demands are simple - Get your booties up to the boardwalk tomorrow and walk the planks to celebrate the return of Captain Kidd Pirate Day!

The annual pirate costume parade will begin at 11 a.m., from 26th & Boardwalk (between Sam's Pizza & Gateway 26). The route ends at 19th Avenue, with a treasure hunt to take place at that location afterward for kids 12 and under.

* Notes: Registration is not necessary for participation in the treasure hunt; Prizes will be awarded for parade costumes before the treasure hunt begins.

For those already registered for the parade, check-in is at 26th & Boardwalk between 10 a.m. - 10:30.

Registrations can be made by phone ONLY tonight until 5 p.m. (609-522-2955) or tomorrow morning at the same location listed above.

Our friends at North Wildwood Recreation & Tourism have informed us that there will be lots of prizes given away after the treasure hunt, including a $500 grand prize, bikes, weekend getaways at local motels and hotels, gift certificates for local restaurants, Morey's Piers ride tickets, tram car rides, Silver Bullet speedboat rides, and more.

For more information, visit www.northwildwood.com or call 609-522-2955.

The Captain hopes to see you there tomorrow. After all, he has you pegged as the type.

"Big Tony" debuts at Franconi's Pizza

Just in time for the 2013 summer season comes the newest addition to the Franconi family - Big Tony!

Sculpted by Mark Cline of Virginia-based Enchanted Castle Studios, this likeness of Franconi's Pizza owner Tony Franconi now presides above the pizzeria at Oak Avenue.

"It was custom made for us, no one else has it," Tony Franconi Jr. told Wildwood 365.

And, check out the attention to detail...

"If you look closely, Big Tony's left arm has a tattoo with a heart that says 'Deb' - that's my mom. And the right arm has a tattoo in Old English that says Amanda - that's my sister.

"The tattoos were Mark's ideas. He added them as a surprise for dad."

Final artBOX pieces put into place at media event

Courtesy of Shark Sugar

The "big drop" is complete!

Now, artBOX, the new artists' colony at Adventure Pier, is one step closer to its official opening next month.

The final shipping container, one of seven that will comprise the new co-op, was put into place vertically via crane at a media event shortly after 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The repurposed containers will be given new lives, including a sushi cafe run by Tokyo Sushi of Rio Grande, an artistic glassware store, art and displays by Shark Sugar, and museum shop by Exit Zero.

Here's the sequence, at it occurred live on dropcam...

The Establishment at 100 grand opening at 4:30 p.m.

The Establishment at 100, the newest addition to North Wildwood's restaurant landscape, will hold a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

The restaurant is located at 100 Olde New Jersey Ave. in North Wildwood, the former location of Claude's Restaurant.

For more information and updates, check out The Establishment at 100's Facebook page.

Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase tonight

The 14th Annual Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase will be held tonight at the Bolero Resort (3320 Atlantic Ave.) from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

For $25, entrants can enjoy a sampling of dishes and desserts from a variety of local eateries (see list of participants below).

It's a great deal and a unique opportunity to try out a number of the island's best restaurants in one location.

The event will also feature live and Chinese auctions with lots of prize giveaways, including: a 10-day stay in Saint Maarten, two foursomes of golf, a beach cruiser bike, two nights at Hotel Icona in Diamond Beach, overnights at local B&Bs, wine tasting tours, restaurant gift certificates, amusement pier and waterpark passes, Phillies tickets and sports memorabilia, beach gear, wine glare, and much more.

ALL proceeds from the Restaurant Showcase will benefit the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which provides scholarships for students of the Wildwoods.

Last year, the foundation provided $11,000 in college scholarships.

Tickets will be available at the door tonight, or can be purchased at 609-729-4000.

Participating Eateries:

Morey's Piers Kicks-off Summer; Raging Waters Waterpark opens Memorial Day Weekend

PRESS RELEASE

Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks is starting summer 2013 with a splash. Located on the boardwalk in the Wildwoods, NJ, the classic shore side destination celebrates the official opening weekend on Saturday, May 25, 2013, of all three piers – Surfside Pier, Adventure Pier, and Raging Waters Waterpark at Mariner’s Landing.

Located on Mariner’s Landing Pier, Raging Waters features beloved water rides and slides such as the River Adventure, Shotgun Falls, and the 175,000 gallon interactive activity pool. Operated by a team of highly-trained, certified lifeguards, Morey’s Piers’ waterparks recently received the Decade of Aquatic Safety Excellence Award, a prestigious accolade presented by Ellis & Associates, International Aquatic Safety and Risk Management consultants that showcases Morey’s leadership in waterpark safety. 

WHAT’S NEW: Guests visiting Morey’s Piers this summer will enjoy new and improved attractions including the complete makeover of the famed Zoom Phloom featuring hand carved seals and sea life out of the existing rockwork, and the freshly renovated Boat Tag ride on Adventure Pier. On Surfside Pier, guests will find solace from the sun under the new rooftop covering on the second floor of Joe’s Fish Co. and sample the menu at the new Soggy Dollar Beach Bar opening June 15 at the Ocean Oasis Waterpark. The Soggy Dollar Beach Bar is open to the public. Waterpark admission is not required to enjoy a variety of lively libations, great food and open-air ocean views.

During Memorial Day weekend visitors can get a sneak peek of Morey’s Piers’ new artistic venture, artBOX, the first-of-its kind, 10,000 square foot interactive artists village crafted from re-purposed shipping containers.  Located on Adventure Pier, artBOX will make its grand opening debut on June 13^th and feature handpicked local and regional artists showcasing paintings, handmade crafts, and live demonstrations that include surf art, glass blowing, artisanal jewelry and speed painting.  The shipping container colony also features an Exit Zero Museum Shop, carrying a collection of merchandise and nostalgic Wildwood and Jersey Cape memorabilia and Café 4B serving fresh sushi.

For more information on Morey’s Piers, visit www.moreyspiers.com.  

###

About Morey’s Piers

Morey’s Piers, located on the boardwalk in the Wildwoods, New Jersey is a classic seaside amusement park, family owned and operated since 1969. Voted the third best seaside amusement park in the world by Amusement Today, Morey’s Piers has over 100 rides and attractions spanning over eighteen acres along six beach blocks and includes three amusement piers and two beachfront waterparks. Convenient to the major population centers of the Northeast, yet a world apart, Morey’s Piers along with Morey Resorts combines the pure joy of an amusement park, the sights and sounds of a classic boardwalk, outstanding accommodations, together with the rhythm of beach life. Visit them at Surfside Pier, featuring the Ocean Oasis Waterpark and Beach Club at 25th Avenue, Mariner’s Landing Pier, featuring Raging Waters Waterpark at Schellenger Avenue, and Adventure Pier at Spencer Avenue. For more information, visit www.moreyspiers.com or phone (609) 522-3900 or like us on Facebook. You can also follow us on Twitter and YouTube.

GWCOC announces three upcoming Grand Openings

PRESS RELEASE

 

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce is hosting three Grand Opening Celebrations in the next two weeks.

"Two businesses are expanding the size of their locations and one is brand new to the area," stated Executive Director of the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce, Tracey DuFault.

"It is exciting to see not just new businesses coming in, but businesses are doing so well in the Wildwoods, that they need more square footage for their operation".
 
Businesses and the community are invited to come to the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies to wish these businesses much success:

The Establishment at 100
100 Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood

Grand Opening - 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16th
  
The Establishment at 100 is North Wildwood's newest restaurant concept. They are a casual upscale restaurant, offering upscale food and beverage at a price point that will leave customers very satisified. With a strong emphasis on farm to fork cooking they will base the menus off of the locally available produce of the season.

The Establishment values New Jersey's local farmers and will make every effort to use them for as much as possible. Creating menus solely based of off the current season for spring, summer, and fall. Out of the kitchen you will find everything made from scratch, and they demand a very high standard when it comes to quality and creativity.

The wine list will offer exceptional taste and value, including many varieties of both red and white . In addition to the food menu which will change with the season, the drink menu will as well. The drink menu will provide a creative look on modern day cocktails that will please many palates. They

also offer a full wine list that provides many different varietals and offers a wide range of prices that will please any type of consumer.

                   

 

Zippy's Bikes

3900 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood

Grand Opening - 12 noon on Friday, May 17th
          
Zippy's has moved north up the street to 3900, which is at the corner of Pacific and Spicer Aves. in Wildwood. Zippy's has greatly increased it's floor space and will be better able to serve all your biking needs.

Zippy's has expanded it's line of in store bicycles and now carries beach cruisers from Jamis, Soul Cruzer, along with SUN Bicycles and custom Zippy Cruisers.  They also have a new line of fixed gear bikes, "Fixies," from Retrospec,  

Other items include children's beach cruisers and a variety of pre-owned bicycles.


Potito's Bakery
17th & Central Avenues - North Wildwood

Grand Opening - 10 a.m. on Friday, May 24th

A bit of Italy in the heart of the Wildwoods. Family owned and operated for over 25 years in South Philadelphia. Philadelphia Magazine best Bakery 2001. Reader's Choice South Philly

Potito's Bakery is a South Philadelphia bakery that specializes in serving the best cannolis, zeppolis, biscottis, and specialty cakes in the tri-state area.

The Wildwood Leader - Vol. 93, No. 16

This week's edition of The Wildwood Leader is now online. To view, click HERE or the cover image at left.

Top stories include...

*  Wildwood changing attorneys

*  Winterwood, Johnson's Popcorn coming to the Boardwalk

*  Trial begins in fatal 2010 attack

*  Parking rate to increase in North Wildwood

*  North Wildwood may spend $3M on field

*  Wildwood prom photos

***

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