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An occasional update on local stories that were in the news just a year ago.

Nov. 16: The smoking lamp will be turned back on at Atlantic City's 11 casinos.

Gamblers will be allowed to light up again on the casino floor following the end of a controversial, month-long smoking ban that was blamed by gaming executives for scaring away customers.

Over the objections of smoking opponents, City Council agreed to lift the ban for at least a year to give the gaming industry more time to recover from the nation's economic crisis.

Council planned to vote on the measure earlier this month, but never did. But councilmembers have indicated that the financial outlook for the state, and specifically the area casinos, makes the ban less attractive. Gaming halls in nearby Pennsylvania that allow smoking also have not helped in getting the full ban approved.

Callaway sentenced

Nov. 21, 2008: Former Atlantic City Council President Craig Callaway pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit invasion of privacy for his involvement in a plot to blackmail Atlantic City Councilman Eugene Robinson with a tape of him having sex with a prostitute.

Callaway admitted renting two rooms at an Absecon motel where Robinson was filmed having oral sex with a prostitute in November 2006.

Callaway was sentenced to three years in prison, to run concurrent to a 40-month federal term he already was serving. He is currently at the Federal Correctional Institution Gilmer in Glenville, W.Va., but almost had a chance to travel back to Atlantic County for a while last month, when three of his co-conspirators were on trial.

Defendant Floyd Tally testified he believed the Robinson set up was part of a federal investigation. Callaway told him as much, he insisted. And, on the stand, he would admit it. The move couldn't be made in time, however. Tally, along with Callaway's brothers, David and Ronald, were convicted in the scheme. They are scheduled to be sentenced. Dec. 10.

Kessler Campus

Nov. 20, 2008: William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital has begun a full-court press to stay in business by getting $5 million in loans from community members by mid-January. That would complete the funding of a $16.5 million revitalization plan for the once-bankrupt hospital.

"Am I convinced that the citizens are ready to loan the hospital $5 million? No. But I think there's a shot," new CEO Jim Rossi said.

There wasn't. By March, Kessler closed its doors, and AtlantiCare took over running the hospital as a satellite to its two other campuses.

Less than two weeks into the new management, doctors were already lauding the change.

"It's night and day," said Dr. Bill Zwiebel, who worked at Kessler Memorial Hospital for 25 years before it closed March 12. He now works at Kessler Campus as a member of AtlantiCare's emergency department staff.

While AtlantiCare took over the emergency room, it still remains unclear what will happen to the rest of the hospital.

Holocaust memorial

Nov. 18, 2008: About 70 people bundled up under the pavilion at the Boardwalk and Kentucky Avenue, where a Holocaust memorial three years in the planning will be erected.

Atlantic City may well be the most ethnically diverse city in America, said Rabbi Gordon Geller, chairman of the committee to build the memorial. The project has been endorsed by clergy of every creed, and will serve as the city's dedication to the ideal of tolerance and harmony.

The director of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem assured him that with 10 million pedestrians walking by every year, the memorial "can and will be recognized as one of the most important vehicles in the world for disseminating the legacy message of 'Never again,'" Geller said.

Almost exactly a year later, the committee had another public announcement: The jury that will pick the winning memorial design has been chosen.

Designers may send their plans through the Web site www.acbhm.org.

Six finalists will be chosen by next summer. They each will receive $2,500 to turn their designs into models. The judges will then make their choice in August.

Staff writer Lynda Cohen

10 comments:

• jmanfrompa (38) posts 10:02 pm

  Thank you...the smoking ban was a totally ridiculous concept to begin with. Now, hopefully, it will be completely done away with once and for all! Casinos are places for gambling, drinking, & smoking.

• snowbird (3) posts 11:37 pm

  There is no reason to have smoking bans in this country. Owners can put a sign in their doors: 'This is a smoking venue' 'This is a non-smoking venue.' This solution gives choices to the owners and to the public. http://thetruthisalie.com http://www.citizensfreedomalliances.org

• RandomX856 (158) posts 8:32 pm

  BernieSchwartz- Trash like yourself is the reason why A.C. is a dump. You fit right in, bud. Stay there. Blame the blacks if you want. Its just an excuse to hide behind.

• Justathought (34) posts 3:08 pm

  After 12 months Bernie is still spot on in his opinions. Can't wait for the holocaust memorial on the boardwalk to cheer me up while I;m on vacation.

• jeepers08 (4) posts 2:36 pm

  You are so right Lew Carroll...... "If you don't like the show, change the channel." "If you don't like abortion, don't have one." If you don't like smokers, find another place to work. End of story. What is happening to choices? Choices, oh, what's that? Police seek suspect in shooting at Atlantic City bar...."Well lets hope the shooter wasn't smoking".

• jeepers08 (4) posts 2:32 pm

  You are so right Lew Carroll...... "If you don't like the show, change the channel." "If you don't like abortion, don't have one." If you don't like smokers, find another place to work. End of story. What is happening to choices? Choices, oh, what's that?

• jeepers08 (4) posts 2:29 pm

  You are so right Lew Carroll...... "If you don't like the show, change the channel." "If you don't like abortion, don't have one." If you don't like smokers, find another place to work. End of story. What is happening to choices? Choices, oh, what's that?

• moverightalong (195) posts 2:11 pm

  Lee Carroll you the man as the brothers use to say THATS WORD) not to bad for a white man, now if the real nigg***, would just leave town maybe we could all get along ,take MIDGET with you do not need him back typical nigg**

• Lew Carroll (410) posts 11:27 am

  Bernie, give more credit to Margate, and to Ventnor west of New Haven ave. The rot will dry up before it reaches there.// for all the smoke nazis, who will claim their life expectantcy just fell by another 18 months: it's a democracy. Majority rule. All power to the people. "If you don't like the show, change the channel." "If you don't like abortion, don't have one." If you don't like smokers, find another place to work. End of story.

• BernieSchwartz (645) posts 8:27 am

  ...12 months later Atlantic City actually looks worse..... Black people are bringing the rest of us down to their level....wards 5 and 6 next to fall followed by Ventnor, Margate....

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