It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to introduce you to the new Pinky Bobblehead.
Some of you may remember the first one that came out in 2005 and helped to raise more than $70,000 for Gilda's Club.
The first bobblehead was acquired because a gentleman came out with a bobblehead and sold 100. I told him I might be interested in getting a bobblehead. He told me he didn’t believe I could sell 50. I took him up on his challenge and sold more than 2,000, thanks to the support of many of you.
So why a new bobblehead? Many of you may remember my column a couple of weeks ago that reported the Cherri Kravitz Scholarship Foundation gave $5,000 scholarships, a total of $40,000, to eight graduating students of Atlantic City High School. There is a dire necessity to raise additional funds so that we may continue to provide scholarships for students in need of financial assistance.
As president of this foundation, I found it imperative to do what I could so that we might continue what was started six years ago and has delivered more than $140,000 in scholarships. When I mentioned it to one of my cohorts in my industry, I was told, “you had your shot and it’s doubtful you could come close to doing it again.”
I guess what I needed was a challenge like this get me off my rusty dusty and do all within my power to come as close as possible to what was done previously.
With the first edition of the bobbleheads, I did it all myself with some help while I signed the bobbleheads. I paid more than $4,000 for the first 1,000 as my contribution to this fine organization. I sold them, personally delivered them, collected the funds and gave it all to Gilda's Club, which at that time had financial problems.
Let it be known that I am personally paying for the bobbleheads and every dollar collected will go to the Cherri Kravitz Scholarship Fund.
With the help of some of the interns working at our studio, the director of the intern program, some of my relatives and a granddaughter, I began signing 1,000 Pinky bobbleheads. The task was completed this past Tuesday and they are now ready for sale.
I realize I must work twice as hard as before, but this time there will be some help. As of today, you may find the new Pinky Bobblehead on sale for a $25 donation paid in cash or by check to the Cherri Kravitz Scholarship Foundation. Those of you who are out of the area may send your check to the foundation, P.O. Box 2628, Ventnor City, N.J. 08406 and your bobblehead will be mailed to you. The foundation is a 501c3 organization and contributions are tax-deductible.
The bobbleheads are now available at the reception desk of WOND, Longport Media at 1601 New Road, Linwood; Carlucio’s pizza parlor at New and Tilton roads in Northfield; Chester’s Plants & Flowers at Iowa and Arctic avenues in Atlantic City; and Formica Brothers Bakery at 200 Tilton Road in Northfield and 2310 Arctic Ave. in Atlantic City.
Our family has just one event to raise funds and that is the one that will be held July 22 at Maynard’s Cafe in Margate. That is why an additional project was necessary to fund scholarships for graduating Atlantic City High School students. By the way, the bobbleheads are dated 7/11/12. The 7/11 is the day this guy came on this Earth. It has been a lucky number for me and I hope it will be as lucky for those of you who purchase a Pinky bobblehead.
As the rumor mill churns
With all that is going on around the city, it is interesting to note the rumors that are flying. For the past couple of weeks, it was that Bally’s Atlantic City was going to be purchased by the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Casino. It didn't take me too long to track this down as being an ill-found rumor.
I was very fortunate in being able to get a call through to Jim Allen, chief executive officer of all the Hard Rock casinos and restaurants. When he picked up the phone he said “hello,” and I announced who I was and he vociferously said, “We are not going to buy Bally’s.” That took care of that rumor. When I asked him about the future of his plans for Atlantic City, he said that is still being discussed and he is hopeful of having a statement in the not-too-distant future.
The next big rumor that came out of the mill has more of a chance of becoming a reality: that Resorts is in the midst of working a deal with Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. If this part of the rumor is true, it would mean an end to the ’20s era and the beginning of an exciting Margaritaville facility. Additionally, it has been rumored that discussions were underway with the Mohican Indian casino, in Connecticut, to oversee the operation of the casino and hotel. It has been known publicly that the owner has been seeking a tried and true casino operator for his property. This one makes sense and could happen.
Bike, pedestrian meeting
Nothing specific came out of the meeting. There were discussions of making pedestrians safer but no specific plan for that. There were also discussions about bike paths and again nothing specific was presented. For those of you who feel left out, I’m happy to say that in the not-too-distant future the Department of Transportation representatives that head this project will be holding a public meeting at the Atlantic City Convention Center for all interested.
No date has been discussed, but it should be forthcoming soon.
Pinky’s Corner appears every Thursday in The Press. The Pinky’s Corner radio show airs 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on WOND 1400-AM. His TV show, “WMGM Presents Pinky,” airs 7:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC TV40. Email Pinky at: pinky@pressofac.com.
