Statue good as new: Egg Harbor City held a ceremony Sunday to rededicate a statue of Peace Pilgrim, which honors the life and legacy of a local woman who walked across the country for peace.
The statue is located at Peace Pilgrim Park in the 500 block of London Avenue.
Born Mildred Lisette Norman in 1908, Peace Pilgrim began walking the country in 1953. She chose to be called Peace Pilgrim and told friends and family members not to use her birth name.
The original terra cotta statue of Peace Pilgrim, created by Corbin City artist Sally McInerny and erected in 2002, was damaged when a branch fell from a nearby pine tree during a storm. The statue was repaired and reinstalled, but was weakened at the ankles. The statue remained in place for several years but was again damaged when it toppled over in a windstorm.
The city secured funding from a private foundation to get the statue recast. Pieces of the original statue were transported to the Green Foundry in Maine, where it was recast in bronze and coated with a French brown patina. Members of the Friends of Peace Pilgrim transported the statue to and from the foundry. It was reinstalled Sept. 16 by Jim Dessicino, of Absecon, with the assistance of the Egg Harbor City Department of Public Works.
New Gateway director: Renai Ellison has been named the new full-time executive director of the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point effective Oct. 1. Ellison takes the reins from Alice Woods, who has held the position on a part-time basis for the past year.
Ellison has spent most of her career in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York working in the television industry as an actor in commercials, corporate videos and small theater productions, developing television projects, and working as a host on QVC, PBS, HGTV and PHL17. She recently returned to her hometown of East Vineland in Buena Vista Township, where she graduated from Buena Regional High School.
“I have a passion for theater and a love for performing and public speaking,” Ellison said. “Add in my combination of skills, work experience and education, and this new journey with the Gateway is a gift and an answered prayer.”
Ellison plans to concentrate on fundraising, attracting new donors and patrons, strengthening the Gateway’s educational program and drawing talent from an array of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
“As the Gateway continues to grow and expand, our need for a full-time executive director became more and more evident. To that end, we are thrilled to have Renai Ellison fill that role,” said Katie Calvi, Gateway board president. “Her vision, leadership and passion for the arts perfectly align with Gateway Playhouse’s mission and the direction we wish to take for the future.”
The Gateway will host a welcome reception for Ellison at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 3 prior to a performance of “Into the Woods.” Ticketholders to the evening’s performance are invited to the reception. For more information, visit gatewaybythebay.org.
Now with drones: Ocean City’s Fall Block Party will return from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11, and this year a new drone show will cap off the day at 8 p.m. Hundreds of drones will create images synchronized to music over the beach and Boardwalk. The best viewing will be south of Sixth Street. Parking will be free at all municipal lots and metered spaces in the city.
Foundation to honor Hill: The MBCA Foundation will celebrate its 34th anniversary with its annual officers installation and awards gala at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at Tropicana Atlantic City, honoring MBCA co-founder Gary Hill.
The event will feature a cocktail hour with cash bar, dinner and music by Steven Maglio. More than 500 people are expected to attend as the 2026 Board of Directors is installed by Mayor Marty Small Sr., including new members Aura Sanchez, Toni Brooks and Scott Brown.
Tickets are $150 each or $1,500 for a table of 11 and are available at mbcanj.com.
Cleanup and party: The fourth annual Atlantic City Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park is looking for volunteers Oct. 25.
This year’s event will feature cleanup locations in all six of the city’s wards, as well as in the Orange Loop between Ocean and New York avenues.
Volunteers will check in at 8:30 a.m. and clean up until noon. Trash-pickers and bags will be provided on site, and volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves. Boots and sneakers are preferred. No open-toed shoes. Each volunteer will receive a food truck meal voucher that can be redeemed at the Party in the Park at O’Donnell Park near Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus.
The Party in the Park will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a DJ and live band, crafters, a petting zoo, juggling, face painting and outdoor games.
To sign up for the cleanup, or to be a vendor at the party, visit stockton.edu/ac. You can register online through Oct. 18 or in person the day of the event. If you are registering a group, email stephanie.clineman@stockton.edu. For more information, call 609-626-3846. Rain date is Oct. 26.
Champions for a Cause: Cancer Support Community New Jersey will host its annual Champions for Cause celebration at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Linwood Country Club. The fundraising gala will recognize Lisa Johnson, president of Lisa Johnson Communications, and Nick Valinote of NJ Lifestyles Magazine.
The evening will include a buffet dinner, complimentary bar, silent auction and a restaurant raffle offering 12 months of fine-dining experiences.
All proceeds from the event will benefit CSCNJ, which provides free emotional and social support for people impacted by cancer. Tickets are $150 per person, $275 per couple and $1,250 for a table of 10 and are available at cscnj.org.
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