You'll have to wait a little longer to go slip slidin' at Atlantic City's new waterpark.

Island Waterpark, located at Showboat Hotel, was slated to open to the public Friday, June 30th.

However, the newly-built indoor attraction experienced a setback before it could officially welcome visitors.

Reportedly, there were permit issues that didn't get ironed out in time.

But Showboat owner and Tower Investments CEO Bart Blatstein put a positive spin on the delay in an eloquent statement where he said, 'You only have one chance to make a first impression. I've decided to open ISLAND Waterpark on July 7. This is the world’s largest indoor beachfront waterpark and a destination that will last many decades so I want to ensure everything is perfect.'

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Let's all send good energy to Bart and the team at Island Waterpark so that they can move forward with its rescheduled opening this Friday and have a great first summer at the Jersey Shore. Once up and running, guests of all ages will get to experience an indoor paradise that's expected to stay open all year round.

13 Funny (but Accurate) South Jersey Beach/Boardwalk Yelp Reviews

Everyone's got opinions and Yelp exists for people who love to vent. These Yelp reviews of the beaches and boardwalks in South Jersey will have you saying, 'huh?' but also, 'accurate'.

Ocean City

We do like it actually...

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Strathmere

Shhhh, keep it a secret.

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Atlantic City

Who's gonna tell her AC isn't Seaside?

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Cape May

Ah the great wet sand, dry sand battle

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Wildwood

More Expensive = Higher Quality

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Ocean City

It's called growth.

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Margate

It's called tides

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Cape May

It's called history...

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Atlantic City

People-watching is always pretty fun.

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Ocean City

So, the beach isn't fun in the cold?

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Wildwood

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

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Cape May

A low Snookie population

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Atlantic City

Beach towns are usually summer destinations...

7 South Jersey Towns List Says Gotta Go in NJ

The people at NJ.com are basically invalidating these seven South Jersey towns' reason for existence.

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Hi-Nella

Located in Camden County, Hi-Nella has a population of just under 900 and a REALLY big hill, lol. But NJ.com writes, 'Any town with the audacity to include a hyphen in its name is already on thin ice', and also refers to Hi-Nella as a 'faceless quarter-square-mile of land between Somerdale and Stratford' and calls it 'completely unnecessary'.

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Lower Township

Located in Cape May County, Lower Twp. has about 22,700 residents. NJ.com's beef? It's 'dunce' name.

“Hey, where do you live?”

“Lower what?”

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Middle Township

NJ.com wants this Cape May County towns (population 18,778) to be combined with surrounding townships and called 'Jerseyville'.

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Pine Valley

I think Agnes Nixon, Erica Kane, and some of the folks at ABC daytime television might take issue with scrubbing Pine Valley off the map. Okay, the soap opera 'All My Children' was technically set in Pine Valley, PA, but still. Why NJ.com says it needs to go: It's only got 4 people living there. 4. And labels it 'a golf course masquerading as a town'. Annddddd???

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Tavistock

I say keep Tavistock so I can keep driving around it gawking at all the McMansions I'll never afford, lol. The Camden County town with all of 9 residents, NJ.com writes that it 'was founded with the purpose of allowing members of the Tavistock Country Club to hit the links on Sundays' and would rather see it merged with Haddon Twp. or Barrington.

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Upper Township

Upper Twp. in Cape May County has a population just over 12,000. NJ.com suggests, 'Do all these nice South Jerseyans a favor and merge these three [Lower, Middle, Upper Twp.] and give them a cool name.'

Google Maps; Canva

Woodstown

Why NJ.com says this Salem County town of just over 3,500 residents needs to go: Just 'another purposeless doughnut hole town' they suggest should merge with Pilesgrove.

Nestle ponders future of its 75-year-old coffee factory in Freehold, as Teamsters Local 11 shows support for 200 workers there Tuesday.

|Updated Tue, Jun 20, 2023 at 3:12 pm ET

FREEHOLD, NJ — The union representing 200 workers at the Nestle plant in Freehold rallied at the factory Tuesday to support employees, as the company says it has concluded its "decisional bargaining" with the union.

The global Nestle corporation, based in Vevey, Switzerland, is "considering options" for its 75-year-old Freehold instant coffee factory at 61 Jerseyville Ave., on the Freehold/Freehold Township line.

The company said Tuesday its representatives "met again with the union representing the Freehold factory to further discuss the ongoing challenges facing the facility."

The challenges include the age of the plant, its "limited operational flexibility" and its "inability to meet instant coffee demand in a cost-effective way," the company said.

But a union representative said the company needs to consider the iconic role such brands as Taster's Choice and Nescafe have in society - and that are only produced in America in the Freehold plant.

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"Freehold has done a lot for the company," said Teamsters Local 11 Recording Secretary Anita Clark, adding that even the borough mayor worked there as a student.

And she said the union is "trying to persuade them" that employees have done "so much for the success" of Nestle.

Clark said the company will discuss the future of the plant at the Switzerland headquarters, and she expects workers will have an update in about two weeks.

"We appreciate the union’s willingness to discuss the situation, including the annual cost savings required to make continuing operations there viable for our business in the long term, " said a spokesperson for Nestle USA, based in Arlington, Va.

The company's decision process has also included conversations with local Freehold officials and New Jersey government agencies, the company said.

Clark said the union, too, is involving area legislators and officials to see what can be done to preserve the company operation there.

But it seems the ball is now in the company's court.

"Decisional bargaining with the union has concluded, and our leadership team will now make a final decision regarding the factory. We are committed to giving our Freehold employees updates in a timely manner,” the spokesperson said.

Although the borough government has no information regarding the company sessions with the union, the borough hopes the "good-paying jobs" can remain in Freehold.

"The Borough, Mayor (Kevin) Kane and the Borough Council encourage all parties to negotiate in good faith with the objective of keeping these good-paying jobs here in Freehold," said Borough Business Administrator Stephen J. Gallo.

"The borough stands ready to assist in whatever way we can, and we continue to coordinate with state and federal resources to keep Nestle here in the borough," he added.

He said Kane and members of the Borough Council met with Teamsters Local 11 leadership Tuesday morning to "offer encouragement and support."

The company had invited the union to sit down and talk about the future of the site early in May.

Michael Curcio, president of Teamsters Local 11, based in Haledon, has said previously that he will "fight for my membership," and he was at the rally Tuesday.

Curcio said he will keep his membership of 200 employees and the public informed of how discussions progress with Nestle.

No final decision on the fate of the plant has been made as yet, according to the company.

But it acknowledged last month that the turn of events is a concern for employees.

"We recognize this process creates uncertainty for our Freehold team and are committed to providing regular updates and supporting our employees during this process," a company spokesperson has said.

Nestle is a global company with 275,000 employees around the world. Its products are sold in 188 countries, and it operates more than 340 factories in 77 countries, according to internet sources.

The Freehold plant has been a mainstay in the borough. According to the borough, the plant pays about $600,000 annually in property taxes and provides over $25 million in ratables.

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JERSEYVILLE — The Jersey County Sheriff's Office has released information about its new community patrol zones and the names of the deputies assigned to each zone.

"We feel blessed to live in a safe and quiet community," said Jersey County Sheriff Nicholas Manns. "Still, as spring arrives, the Jersey CountySheriff’s Office is asking our residents to be vigilant and help us keep our county safe."

Manns said deputies are still making their way door to door and residents should feel free to contact the deputy responsible for their zone with any questions or concerns. For more information call the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 618-498-6881.

"While we fortunately have no specific threats to report, we know from experience that as the weather warms and our farmers hit the fields, thieves and burglars often look for opportunities," he said.

To help the sheriff's office, Mann is asking residents to lock their homes, buildings, vehicles and farm equipment and to remove keys from the ignition. Do not keep garage door openers in vehicles parked outside, he said, and do not leave firearms in unattended vehicles.

He advised people not vacations or planned absences on social media, suggesting they let trusted neighbors or family know when they are gone for prolonged periods and asking them to watch the property. People also can contact the sheriff's office about an extra patrol when they are on long vacations or prolonged absences.

Manns advised residents secure tools, grills and outdoor implements by putting them in locked areas. He said to use and check security cameras and to report any suspicious activity to us immediately. He advised using trail cameras on outbuildings, farm implements in fields and remote entrances to property.

Residents should regularlty check the exterior of their home and buildings to make sure there is no easy way to enter, and they should keep outdoor lighting in working order, he said. Use motion sensor lighting outdoors and use timers for indoor lighting when you are gone.

Manns said residents should be aware of anything out of the ordinary in your neighborhood, particularly unknown vehicles or people traveling or stopped in their area. Get a good description of any unknown vehicle and/or individual and direction of travel, he said.

People who work nights should pay extra attention when going to and from work for any suspicious activity, Manns said.

"Always err on the side of caution and call us with any concerns or suspicions," he said.

"Difficult decision" to close Freehold's Nestle instant coffee plant will impact 227 job; 75-year-old plant is part of borough history.

|Updated Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 2:30 pm ET

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Nestle Corporation will close its Freehold instant coffee factory here as of November, a move that has been looming for several weeks now.

"We have made the difficult decision to close our Freehold, New Jersey, factory," the company said in a statement Friday.

"We are committed to doing all we can to support our people during this change. We intend to work with the union to develop comprehensive separation packages for our hourly employees to ease the transition to their next career," the company said.

The last day of production will be in November, with a last day for most employees on Nov. 17, the company said.

The company confirmed it is utilizing "global" production facilities in its network to support coffee-drinkers' needs:

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"Specifically, we intend to further utilize our Veracruz, Mexico and Araras, Brazil sites, which have increasingly been supporting the U.S. volume needs in the past few years," the company said.

The age of the plant and cost of needed upgrades were major factors in the decision.

"We’ve made significant investments in Freehold over the years, but the factory's many challenges, specifically its age and limited operational flexibility, would cost tens of millions in additional investments to make it viable.

"How consumers drink coffee is constantly evolving and our manufacturing network must be set up to meet the needs of consumers now and long into the future," the company said.

This decision follows discussions with local and state officials over the last few weeks, as well as with union leadership of Teamsters Local 11.

Michael Curcio, president of Local 11, said the union was involved in talks with the company since early May and the final decision "took the wind out of our sails."

"People are upset, angry. They are changing the lives of 200 people," he said, adding that a company vice president came to the plant and informed the workers at 10 a.m. Friday about the decision.

He said the plant temporarily closed after the announcement and will reopen Monday, with people on their regular shifts.

Curcio said the process of talks was fruitless, with concessions by the union considered a "drop in the bucket," he was told.

"They (the company) could have been more forthcoming," he said.

He said local and state legislators have assured him they will continue to be involved in the issue, and he has spoken with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, state Sen. Vin Gopal and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, as well as Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane.

Government officials have been working with company representatives, as well, during the past several weeks.

And Nestle acknowledged that.

"We are grateful for the dialogue with community leaders during this process. We will continue to provide updates to our Freehold employees ahead of the factory’s last day of production in November," Nestle said.

But Curcio said he will press for a comprehensive benefits package, especially for older workers who are nearing Medicare and Social Security age, to see that there is a sufficient "bridge" for local members.

Closing the plant right before Thanksgiving still hurts, he said.

"We built the coffee business for Nestle," Curcio said.

The Freehold plant has been a mainstay in the borough, and part of its local industry heritage that has seen the gradual decrease in manufacturing facilities.

As one would drive from Route 33 to Jerseyville Avenue, the aroma of coffee steaming from vents at the structure was a sure sign you were nearing downtown Freehold.

According to the borough, the plant pays about $600,000 annually in property taxes and provides over $25 million in ratables.

Just last Tuesday, the union representing 200 workers at the plant rallied at the factory to support employees, but to no avail.

Mayor Kane and members of the Borough Council met with Teamsters Local 11 leadership Tuesday morning to "offer encouragement and support." Kane himself worked at the plant as a student.

Nestle remains a "large employer" in New Jersey, where its "employee base has doubled over the past few years,” the company said.

Nestle Health Science has five U.S. locations in New Jersey – its U.S. corporate headquarters in Hoboken, Global Product Technology Center in Bridgewater, a factory in Leonia and two small warehouse facilities, the company said.

The company cited some if its U.S. business investments:

This story has been updated to include union representative comments.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A longtime food and beverage manufacturing facility in Monmouth County has been getting uneasy attention, as employees of Nestlé were reportedly asked to pitch ideas for continuing work at the Freehold site.

Since 1948, the Jerseyville Road facility has been owned and operated by Nestlé.

The roughly 450,000-square-foot plant includes about 227 employees, as reported by the Asbury Park Press, which quoted a company spokesperson on the site’s uncertain fate.

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"As Nestlé evolves to meet consumer needs now and in the future, we must ensure our manufacturing network is dynamic and set up to support our business," according to the report, which added “the factory is limited based on its age, flexibility and ability to meet growing consumer demand in a cost-effective way."

Request for comment submitted to Nestlé by New Jersey 101.5 was not immediately answered on Thursday.

Among Nestlé business locations in the state listed online, six of them were sales or regional offices — in Avenel, Burlington, Lincoln Park, Madison and Rockaway.

Another was a headquarters in Bridgewater along Routes 202/206.

The Bridgewater office became home to the Nestlé Health Science US headquarters in 2018, in addition to Nestlé Product Technology Center and IT team.

There was also a distribution center in Carteret and a research and development site in Florham Park.

Nestlé Beverage has more than 1,400 employees throughout its manufacturing facilities and corporate office.

In addition to the Freehold site, the other U.S. manufacturing facilities have been in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, according to the company website.

Springsteen described the smell of “moist coffee grounds” coming from the Nestlé plant during rainy weather as he grew up in town. He used the story during his one-man Broadway show, also taped for Netflix.

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In addition to Nescafé (Clasico and Taster’s Choice), Nestlé Beverage’s brands include Nestlé Hot Cocoa, Coffee-Mate, Nestea, Carnation Malted Milk,Juicy Juice, Nesquik and Ovaltine.

Nestlé Beverage is part of Nestlé USA, owned By Nestlé S.A. Of Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company with a focus on Nutrition, Health & Wellness.

Globally, Nestlé operates more than 340 factories in 77 countries.

There have been more than a dozen NJ locations, many of them distribution or manufacturing facilities, dealing with grim realities around NJ since last year.

erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com

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