Cindy Christy Fertsch - Shore Local Newsmagazine

Halloween has grown up — and grown bigger

by Cindy Christy Fertsch | Oct 15, 2026 | South Jersey, Atlantic County, Editorial, Letters from the editor

Letter from the editor When I was young, Halloween was fun. We placed a pumpkin on the porch, picked out a costume and went trick-or-treating through the neighborhood on Oct. 31, often with a pillowcase serving as a candy bag. That was about it. There were no 12-foot...

A Halloween tradition made accessible

by Cindy Christy Fertsch | Oct 15, 2026 | Features, Atlantic County, Egg Harbor Township, South Jersey, What's Happening

Children with autism and other developmental disabilities had an opportunity to enjoy a Halloween tradition designed with their needs in mind during the Scullville Volunteer Fire Company’s sensory-friendly hayride. Approximately 200 children, adults and family members...

Stepping back in time: A visit to the mall

by Cindy Fertsch | Oct 8, 2026 | Letters from the editor, Atlantic County, Editorial, South Jersey

Letter from the editor Last weekend, I visited my daughter in Collingswood. We did what mothers and daughters have done for generations: We went to the mall. “But aren’t malls dead?” you may be wondering. No one told the Cherry Hill Mall. Walking inside...

My unforgettable introduction to nor’easters

by Cindy Christy Fertsch | Oct 1, 2026 | South Jersey, Atlantic County, Cape May County, Editorial, Letters from the editor, Margate, Top Stories

Remembering the Dec. 1992 Nor’easter Letter from the editor Living at the Jersey Shore teaches you to take the word “nor’easter” seriously. Very seriously. I’m not a meteorologist, but I believe nor’easters are a greater threat than hurricanes. They do not...

Fall into something new

by Cindy Fertsch | Sep 24, 2026 | Atlantic County, Cape May County, Editorial, Letters from the editor, South Jersey

Letter from the editor Fall officially arrived this week. Cooler mornings have returned, mums are adding bursts of color to front porches, and our calendars are filling with festivals, football games and all the traditions that make this season special. The familiar...