Thursday, March 5, 2009

Don Dunleavy - Last Oldtime Bartender

Don Dunleavy - The Last Oldtime Bartenders.

George McGonigle, Vince Renich and Don Dunleavy were the oldtime bartenders who were a unique breed, who set a professional style and maintained it for decades.

God Bless Don Dunleavy.


http://www.legacy.com/PressOfAtlanticCity/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=124834494

Legacies

James Donald Dunleavy

DUNLEAVY, JAMES DONALD, - of Atlantic City, passed away peacefully after a brief illness with his family by his side on March 1, 2009. Born and raised in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, he moved to Atlantic City in 1960. Don was in the Army and served as Corporal in the Korean War. An Atlantic City legend, he was the owner and operator of the Opus, The Flamingo, The Elbo Room, The Mug, Augustine's, The Jockey Club and Dunleavy's. Don was a long time member of Local 54 and most recently, you may have enjoyed his company while visiting Maynard's of Margate. As one of the founders of the Heart Walk, Don dedicated many years to the American Heart Association. In his day, Don enjoyed a great game of basketball, loved politics and to take a stroll down memory lane. Don was well known for his charisma, great conversation and the way he could light up any room. The best days for Don started with a good cup of coffee and the Daily News. Donald adored his family. Don is survived by his wife Lorrie, his children, Christine Daly (Joe), Annette Williams (Bob), Mary Kay McGlynn (Frank), Maureen Cohen (Sam), Leigh Ann, Jamie Lee and Don. Don was also a wonderful grandfather to his six grandchildren, Angela and Melissa Williams, Michael and Maddie McGlynn, Gabrielle and Christina Cohen. He was predeceased by parents John and Mary and his siblings John, Paul, Billy, Kathleen, Nancy and Grace. He was predeceased by his former wife Annette Cella Dunleavy. Don certainly knew how to enjoy life. If you met Don once, you were a friend for life. Today, raise your glass in memory of Don. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 5th at Church of St. Bernadette, Northfield where friends may call from 9:00 to 11:00 am. Interment Atlantic County Veteran's Cemetery, Estell Manor. Arrangements by the George H. Wimberg Funeral Home. Donations can be made for the Donald Dunleavy, Jr. Educational Fund c/o of The Cape Bank, 7806 Ventnor Ave. Margate, NJ 08402.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Jazz at the Point 2009

17 January 2009 - Blue Moon Jazz - Organist Luke O'Reily at the Inlet and bassist Andy Lalasis at Gregs. Somers Point Jazz Soceity.


25 January - 1st Annual Somers Point Jazz Society Benefit with George Mesterhazy Trio, including Tim Lekan on bass and Bob Shomo on drums. (609) 927-6677 or info@SPJazz.org







Also check out:
25 January - Cape May Traditional Jazz inagural show at Cape May VFW Poast 386, 419 Congress St., West Cape May. (609) 884-7961.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Bubba Mac Shack Bites the Dust

Bubba Mac Shack Bites the Dust

The Somers Point Bubba Mac Shack was torn down on January 2, 2009.

Gone but not forgotten, the classic nightclub, which went by the names Harbor Lights, Markers and Cheers, will be forever remembered as the Bubba Mac Shack, where for eight years they featured good barbeque, nice drinks and great blues. The music was the thing, and Herb "Bubba" built a custom stage in the back where they put on some of the best shows since Tony Marts and Bayshores.

Here's a sample: Jacque Major one Sunday afternoon.
Thanks to John G. and JD for sharing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5To4W232N7A

Art Ellwell, Jr. RIP

Arthur "Bub" Ellwell Jr.


ELLWELL, ARTHUR JR. "BUB" 55 - of Somers Point, passed away early Wednesday morning December 31, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. Art was born and raised in Somers Point, NJ. Art was preceded by his father Arthur Sr. and mother Ethel Paul. He is survived by his three loving children, Alyssa, Artie, Adam and their mother Kim; sister Nancy (Don); many nieces and nephews; lifelong friend Mickey. Art will be remembered for his hard work and dedication to his family and community. He was an active volunteer fire fighter for 35 years for Somers Point Fire Company #1. Art was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Linwood and was involved with the Methodist Men's Organization. Art was an enthusiastic NASCAR fan and enjoyed attending various races across the country throughout the years. He took great pride in his family and home. Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009 at the Central United Methodist Church at Shore Rd. and Central Ave. in Linwood, NJ. Burial at Friends Central Cemetery, Linwood. Family and friends are invited to attend his viewing from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning at the church. Funeral under the direction of Middleton-Stroble and Zale Funeral Home, Somers Point, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations to Art Elwell, Somers Point Fire Co. #1, C/O Sun National Bank, Rt. 9 Somers Point, NJ 08244 to help offset the extensive medical expenses.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Don Bowers RIP

http://www.legacy.com/PressOfAtlanticCity/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=120475476

Don Bowers was a good guy who once owned the Launch Haven bar in Somers Point. Hard by the side of the trolly line, "the Launch" was at the Launch Haven stop on the Shore Trolly Line from Atlantic City boardwalk to Ocean City boardwalk. This rail line is now a bicycle path, and the old bar is now condoed.

Don was a real character with a beautiful wife.

From what I understand, he won a lot of money on a horse at the track, and with the cash winnings he bought the bar, which he operated for about twenty years.

Don was one of the original guys who started the Atlantic City St. Patrick's Day Parade, along with bartender Joe Shields, and bar owners from Brigantine and Atlantic City.

At some point Don sold the Launch and bought a Jittney. The new owner remodeled the seedy, neighborhood shot and beer bar and made it a sports bar where we also played Satalite Trivia for a few years. I'll have to try to dig up some of the old stories I wrote about the place and what happened to it.

The new owner also owned the old Polynisian place on Maryland and Bay that became the Rock Box, and later, after that liquor license was sold to Randy Scarbough and moved across the street to become Markers (Cheers, Bubba Mac Shack. The building became an under 21 club called Sodas until the Launch's liquor license was moved to this location on Maryland and Bay, and called it Sidelines, a sports bar.

Then they tore down the Launch and built a condo.


Donald G. Bowers

BOWERS, DONALD G. 76 - of Margate, suddenly on Nov. 19. Born and educated in Philadelphia and a graduate of Southeast Catholic High School, he spent summers in Atlantic City before moving to Margate in 1964. A Veteran of the US Navy, he served on the destroyer, USS Furse in the late 1940's and early 1950's in the Mediterranean and North Africa and was an amateur boxer in the Navy with a 34-2 record. In 1964 he met and married his best friend and love of his life Joann. In 1966 he bought and ran for 22 years the Launch Haven inn in Somers Point where he met many of his now best friends and enjoyed their camaraderie and companionship. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and was on of the founders of the St. Patrick's day Parade in Atlantic City serving one year as the marshal. He loved golf and the friends he met an played with while a member of Atlantic City CC and Greate Bay CC. He also loved his winter vacations each year in Florida, basking in the sun by the pool where he never slept he " just rested his eyes". He was a loving dedicated, and devoted father and husband and proud pop-pop and playmate to K.C., Kaitlin, Taylor, Tara, and Joseph who brought him so much joy. Loved by all who knew him, he is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Joann, children Melissa (Kurt) Neinstedt of Hamilton Square, Kerry Ann Bowers of Egg Harbor Twp., and Kevin Bowers of Margate, dear cousins and lifelong friends Elaine Sliwkowski (Bob) and Father Phil Bowers. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday November 24, 2008 at 11:30 am Blessed Sacrament Church Jerome and Ventnor Aves, Margate. Friends may call from 10am at the Church. Interment will follow Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery Mays Landing. Arrangements by the Gormley Funeral Home LLC AC

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Somers Point 9/11

Somers Point 9/11 - From Lynn Spencer's Touching History book.

“177 Fighter Wing. Atlantic City, New Jersey, 9:10 a.m. In Somers Point, New Jersey, Lt. Col. Brian Webster, who is the acting wing commander for the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City because his higher-ups are out of town, was enjoying a lazy morning at home on his day off. Then his wife called to him while he was in the shower to let him know that a plane had just flown into the World Trade Center.”

“He got out of the shower immediately and made a quick check of the television coverage. His full-time job is as a Boeing 767 captain for American Airlines, and he knew right away that only a big plane could cause such a large explosion. Then he saw United 175 make impact.”

“He grabbed his flight suit and dressed in a rush, and when his wife asked him why he had to go to the base, he called out simply, ‘That was a 767! That’s why I have to go to work!’”

“Now screeching out of his driveway, he grabs his cell phone and calls the base to instruct the SOF to hold the launch of a scheduled training mission, a routine practice bombing run over Fort Drum in Central New York.”

“ ‘Done that, sir!’ Lt. Col. James Haye, the SOF, answers. The F-16s, which had been taxiing out for takeoff, have already been brought back to the hanger. Haye had seen the coverage too, and had ordered the planes back right away.”

“ ‘Shut down the practice mission altogether and I’ll be at the base within five minutes,’ Webster barks before hanging up. Next he calls the Command Post and orders, ‘Raise the base’s threat protection level to Charlie!’”

“Military threat conditions range from ‘A’ (peacetime) to “D” (base lockdown and under attack). Thread condition “C,” or Charlie, is a wartime posture. It activates a whole slew of security measures to prepare for a possible attack. Webster knows that these ‘accidents’ have terrorism written all over them, and if America is at war he’s determined that Atlantic City is going to be ready to respond.”

“In the years since the base was pulled off the Air Sovereignty Alert Mission, the base’s highly secured Command Post had gradually reverted to a highly secured storage closet, used just once a month for duty weekends, when the troops would train. Personnel are now quickly bringing the Command Post to life, turning on all te lights and bringing the various computers and monitors online. When the loudspeakers announce the transition to Threat Con Charlie, the pace becomes frenzied.”

”Arriving at Operations a short time later, Webster finds one of his master sergeants busy calling up staff and ordering them to report to base. Nobody has told him to do so; nobody had to. The base is rapidly transitioning from a nonalert peacetime setting to full war status.”

“Webster instructs the Operations Support Flight commander to offload the practice missiles and munitions from the fighter jets and replace them with live ones. This will take some time, as the missiles are not stored near the aircraft. A convoy will have to transport them to the flight line, where the fighters are parked, with security escort as a safeguard.”

“‘Get me authenticators,’ he orders next, turning to Haye. He knows that if he is uploading missiles, he is going to need these. Each pilot is given an authenticator – a peace of paper with code in a series of letters – which is valid for only one 24-hour period. When a pilot receives an order to fire, he must follow a strict protocol. He asks for an authentication code, and the code is given must match the one on his authenticator. If they don’t match, he cannot legally comply. The highly classified authenticators are issued to all alert sites, as well as each controlling authority, in this case NEADS, by courier each month. Unfortunately, Atlantic City is no longer an alert site, so they don’t have any authenticators.”

“They’re going to have to get some – fast! Today Webster wants live missiles and he wants authenticators.”

“These orders at a nonalert fighter wing of the Air National Guard are unprecedented. Air National Guard jets don’t simply fly around the United States with live missiles. Guardsmen train to fight wars overseas, not fly armed combat over the United States. There aren’t rules of engagement for war at home, and certainly not for fighters that aren’t even part of the Air Defense Mission. Live missiles? Authenticators? The weapons chief is less than enthusiastic about these orders and he asks to have a word with the colonel.”

“‘Just do it!’ Webster responds, and turns abruptly to walk away. The matter is not up for discussion.”

“….After Garvey announces that United 93 is closing in on the capitol, the decision is made to evacuate the White House and institute COG for the first time in history. Mineta and other senior government officials are quickly relocated to more secure locations, remaining in contact via their cell phones in the interim.”

“….Unknown to NEADS, their lead F-16 pilot over Washington is being given the shoot-down authority directly from the Secret Service, bypassing the military chain of command….”

“…When the DCANG asserts its authority over the operation, however, it causes some tension. Dog, the SOF at the D.C. Guard, gets on the phone to the SOF of the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, Lt. Col. James Haye. ‘We’ve got airplanes running all over the place!” Dog Snaps. ‘We’ve got to coordinate here or someone is going to end up shooting someone down!’”

“Haye is not pleased with what he’s hearing. ‘Wait a minute,’ he objects, ‘no one should be shooting at anyone. This is getting way out of control!’”

“A spirited discussion follows. Dog repeatedly asks for the radio frequency that the Atlantic City jets are on and the details of their mission over the capitol. Being there in Washington, one of the Capital Guardians, he feels a natural inclination to take the lead in bringing order to the situation, but Heye is agitated. He is not even sure of all the answers to the questions Dog is asking, and it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that the D.C. Guard pilots are operating under different rules of engagement than are his own fighters. Those rules of engagement – flying weapons-free- are not sitting too well with Haye. Firing weapons is a very serious matter, and the insinuation that ‘someone is going to get shot down’ unless something changes is simply unacceptable.”

“ ‘Listen, I have airplanes down there, and you have airplanes down there,’ Haye growls, ‘and nobody is talking on the same frequency! If you guys have a target, I strongly suggest that you be sure to make visual identification before shooting!’”

“Tensions between the D.C. Guard and Atlantic City will run strong for days to come….”

“…Finally, at 3:30, Sliney is relieved to be able to announce that the last of the flights inbound to the United States has landed. From his post, he watches a new, military-directed air traffic control system emerge under NORAD’s ESCAT order…..”

Friday, September 5, 2008

Good Old Days Picnic Cancelled

It is with a very heavy heart that I issued the following:

The Good Old Days Festival Committee in conjunction with The Somers Point Office of Emergency Management has decided to cancel The Good Days Festival scheduled for Saturday September 6th in Kennedy Park. This decision was made after consulting with the Somers Point Recreation Commission and reviewing the forecast with The National Weather Service. There is severe weather forecasted for the duration of the day. There is no rain date at this time.

The “5K Walk/Run for Bud” that was scheduled for 9:00 AM Saturday will now be held at 9:00 AM on Sunday September 7th at Kennedy Park.

Thank you.

www.spgoodolddays.com

Sean T. McGuigan
City Councilman
The City of Somers Point
Cell 609-402-5062