From the closing of Gillian's Wonderland in Ocean City to the Atlantic City mayor and superintendent being accused of abusing their teenage daughter, these are the stories that shaped South Jersey in 2024:
Wonderland closes
Gillian's Wonderland closed Oct. 13 after nearly six decades of creating memories at the Jersey Shore.
Wonderland was a fixture in many South Jersey childhoods. Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, one of founder Roy Gillian’s sons and the CEO of Wonderland, made the announcement in a letter to the public Aug. 9, saying the amusement park was no longer a viable business.
Eustace Mita, the owner of the property, has proposed building Icona at Wonderland, a 252-room hotel on the Boardwalk, in its place.
Mita purchased the property as Wonderland approached foreclosure in 2021 and leased it back to Gillian to operate as an amusement park.
Mita said he could spend as much as $155 million on a project that would include 375 parking spaces under the hotel, retail space and public areas on the Boardwalk and preserve some of the Wonderland rides, including investing millions in the repair and preservation of the Ferris wheel and carousel.
AC mayor, superintendent charged
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and schools Superintendent La’Quetta Small were charged with endangering the welfare of a child in April.
The couple have denied the allegations.
Earlier this year, the teenage daughter of Mayor and Superintendent Small told officials at Atlantic City High School she was being physically and mentally abused at home, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The affidavit indicated the Smalls disapproved of their daughter’s boyfriend, who allegedly had audio recordings of the alleged abuse on an iPad.
During one incident, Mayor Small allegedly hit his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness. In another incident, Mayor Small allegedly threatened to hurt her by “earth slamming” her down the stairs, grabbing her head and throwing her to the ground, and “smacking the weave out of her head,” the Prosecutor’s Office said. In yet another incident, Mayor Small allegedly punched his daughter repeatedly in her legs, bruising them.
According to a court document, Small’s daughter went to the hospital three days after the alleged broom incident for treatment of a head injury. She told the nurse she hit her head on a window and lost consciousness, and Mayor Small, who was present at the time, agreed with that version of her story.
Gov. Phil Murphy at one point questioned whether the mayor could still do his job.
Mayor Small has since been additionally charged with witness tampering in the case, which is expected to be back in court in January.
Trump returns to Wildwood
In May, then Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump held a rally on the beach in Wildwood, drawing tens of thousands of people.
Speaking on the beach behind the convention center, Trump criticized inflation and energy costs, and said the economy during his presidency was the best it had ever been. He also criticized President Joe Biden on multiple fronts, promised tax cuts for every level of income, to “drill, baby, drill,” and suggested every aspect of life would be better under his presidency.
Trump would go on to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential election. Harris won New Jersey, but at a narrower margin than is typical in the traditionally blue state.
Housing Authority issues continue
Heat and hot water issues continue to plague Stanley Holmes Village, as many residents face at least part of another winter in the cold.
The Atlantic City Housing Authority has spent $7 million the past couple of years repairing boilers, hot water pipes, gas pipes and making other repairs at Stanley.
Housing Authority officials most recently told a judge the latest round of repairs would have heat back online in January.
Atlantic City Airshow canceled
The 2024 Visit Atlantic City Airshow was canceled this summer due to due to a major act withdrawing.
“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the disappointment it may cause. We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all who have supported this event over the past number of years,” according to a joint statement at the time from the Greater Atlantic City Chamber and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Earlier this year, the future of the airshow, scheduled for Aug. 13 and 14, was in doubt because of funding issues.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. said in March on WOND Radio’s “The Don Williams Show” that there had been discussions with the state about possible funding needed for the show to continue.
Days later, $300,000 from the SJTA allowed the show to go forward. But the show never happened.
The airshow has also been canceled for 2025.
Detective Sgt. Mosley murdered
Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley was murdered Oct. 15 during a home invasion.
Four people were charged with her death. Nyshawn Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland; Jarred D. Brown, 31, of Bridgeton; Richard B. Hawkins Willis, 32, of Gloucester City, Camden County, and Byron L. Thomas, 35, of Paulsboro, Gloucester County, are each charged with murder, felony murder, burglary, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain person not to possess a weapon, hindering apprehension and obstruction of justice.
Additionally, Cyndia Pimentel, 38, of Paulsboro, is charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.
Court documents allege the men entered the home and shot Mosley, who defended herself by shooting Mutcherson in the chest before dying from her injuries.
North Wildwood, DEP squash beach beef
After years of legal wrangling, an agreement on beach and dune replenishment was struck this fall between North Wildwood and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The agreement resolves a multimillion-dollar series of fines levied by the DEP against North Wildwood, and a $20 million lawsuit filed by the city against the state. It also will mean progress for a long-delayed federal beach project that will include North Wildwood and allow the completion of a seawall the city sees as a vital component of storm protection.
But it also spells the end of the Lou Booth Amphitheater on Second Avenue.
The tiny outdoor theater, the site of summer concerts and church services, would be removed and the spot made to match the dunes that surround it, under the proposed agreement.
South Jersey power broker Norcross indicted
South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross, 68, was charged in June along with five allies in a state racketeering indictment for allegedly using their influence over city government to acquire lucrative waterfront real estate and development rights in Camden.
Norcross has denied the allegations.
Norcross' influence can be felt in the Atlantic City area. He had a hand in crafting the state takeover of Atlantic City, determining how the closed Oyster Creek nuclear plant in Forked River would be cleaned up and helping Cape Regional Health System in Cape May Court House merge with Camden’s Cooper University Health Care.
He also has been the subject of a fight this year among Atlantic County Republicans over his insurance firm, Connor Strong & Buckalew, winning bids to run the county’s joint insurance fund accounts.
Spirit files for bankruptcy
The future of the lone commercial carrier at Atlantic City International Airport was thrown into question in November. Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from a pandemic-caused swoon in travel, stiffer competition from bigger carriers and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue.
Spirit expects to continue operating its business as usual through bankruptcy and emerge from Chapter 11 in the first quarter of 2025.
Wildwood officials in court
In September, former Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron admitted accepting state health benefits to which he wasn’t entitled.
Byron, 69, faces up to 16½ years in prison and is barred from holding public employment again. He also must pay restitution and cooperate in the prosecution of his codefendants, Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and City Commissioner Steve Mikulski.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17, but that could change depending on court proceedings involving Troiano and Mikulski.
Byron and Troiano were elected to Wildwood’s Board of Commissioners in 2011 and passed a resolution declaring themselves full-time employees working a minimum of 35 hours per week. However, an investigation found the two didn’t maintain a regular schedule and submitted inaccurate timesheets to the city indicating they worked Monday to Friday, according to the charges.
