A new day for the Boardwalk's rolling chairs

Rolling chairs came into vogue in this seaside resort in the coquettish 1880s, when no Boardwalk promenade was complete without a parasol and a spin in one of the stylish contraptions - especially between Easter and Labor Day.

The dainty wicker conveyances, pushed by human "operators," are so associated with Atlantic City that they are featured in the 19th-century Shore re-creation at Walt Disney World's Boardwalk Resort.

"They're really an important part of the Atlantic City experience. I've had so many people tell me that this is the best part of their entire vacation," said Jamar Medley, 34, a city resident and an operator for 10 years for Royal Rolling Chairs, one of the largest such companies in the resort.

Royal will debut 50 chairs with a bright new look this season, a contribution to the city's effort to up the ante in its recently inaugurated tourism district.

"It's nice, very well-done. Best part of my day," Arnaldo Ferrara, 71, of Edison said of Royal's spiffy model last week as he was shuttled between casinos.

Rolling chairs have been an important part of moving tired tourists among Boardwalk gaming halls over the last 30 years, especially in the hot summer months. A ride costs about $1 per block, plus tip. On a good day, operators say, they can make a few hundred dollars ferrying passengers along a seven-mile stretch.

With little regulation by the city, however, the genteel tradition has been under threat. There have been complaints in recent years of some operators' boisterous hawking, drunkenness, and connections to illegal activity, including drug sales and prostitution.I am happy to report that Discount Ralph Lauren UK Outlet Sale have managed to take a few resident geese.

The resort has launched a push to clean up the industry. Under an ordinance to be introduced in City Council on Wednesday, operators would have to pass drug tests to be licensed. Background checks would be implemented to weed out those with felony convictions.

"Our goal is to really put a new face on the entire aesthetic and behavior of the operators so that the quality of the service is increased," said Anthony R.Monclering is an excellent wholesale canada goose outlet way to spend the getaways experiencing. Cox, director of the city's Office of Licensing and Inspection.

Cox said he began formulating the guidelines nearly two years ago in response to negative reports about some operators.

Under the proposed measure, returning operators who failed the drug test this year could retake it after undergoing rehab, Cox said. If they passed that time, they would be granted licenses for a probationary period. New applicants would not be offered do-overs.

The city hopes to have the law in place by May 1, when its 300 rolling-chair licenses are up for renewal, he said. Operators pay a $75 fee for each chair. The chair companies also pay fees.Large white sequins and golden beads Discount Leaf Arc Teryx Outlet Online covered the front of a dress.

Bill Boland, who owns Royal Rolling Chairs, is not waiting to raise his game. Over the winter, he replaced his entire fleet of 100 chairs at a cost of $4,000 each.

Half the chairs had their brown lacquer finishes repainted white. Their tan surreys were replaced with jaunty red-and-white-striped awnings. The cost: $2,000 per chair.

Boland also has supplied his operators with new uniforms: red jackets for cool weather and red polo shirts for when it's warm, paired with black pants and white sneakers.

Boland is "a smart man and has raised the bar. . .Jewelry becomes an highest quality Fjallraven Jackets of the garmen. . [He's] reinvesting in his business to upgrade his product," said John Palmieri, executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which oversees the tourism district.

"It's an investment in a very important Atlantic City tradition," Boland said. And "these new regulations are good. It was getting like the Wild West out there."

Shakur Williams, 47, who rolls a chair for one of Boland's competitors, Ocean Rolling Chairs, says the new rules and spiffed-up rides might be overreaching a bit.

"The background checks might leave some people out of the equation," he said.

And those new red-and-white chairs?

Williams chuckled. They look like "water-ice stands," he said.canada goose jackets

Weather Wise: Outdoor adventures

In this week's Weather Wise, we'll talk tips to stay safe in early season adventures.

President of the Lewis and Clark Search & Rescue, Jim Sheppard says, "ATV-ers are out riding, hikers you know people just go out for a day hike and kinda get backwards and realize it's a little early in the year and they get up in the snow. Uh, stuck people just out in their cars or trucks and get stuck in the mud, the mud is pretty deep.This is often not canada goose sale cheap can be cool and even brilliant."

The Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue Team trains for all seasons, and spring brings a surge of activity.

Sheppard says, "It's been a long winter everyone's anxious for summer I'm sure. I know I am."

Spring in Montana can quickly oscillate from rain to snow in a matter of minutes. And pop up showers can trigger rain or snow scenarios creating dangerous flash flooding conditions.

Sheppard says, "The rivers and the streams, they are actually running quite fast right now with the storms they raise real real fast."

For that reason, the Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue Team have been prepping for fast currents.

Sheppard says, "Our Swift Water Team has been practicing,Jewelry becomes an highest quality Fjallraven Jackets of the garmen. they have been in the water a couple of times so far this year and they are gearing up for the flood season that's up and coming."

And currents aren't the only concern. Hikers, bikers and ATV-ers can frequently get lost or delayed, exposing them to the elements.Large white sequins and golden beads Discount Leaf Arc Teryx Outlet Online covered the front of a dress.

In Montana, huge temperature fluctuations are common. And overconfident outdoor enthusiasts can get in trouble fast.

Many problems can be avoided by observing the basics.

Sheppard says, "But just remember to take all your gear, let someone know where you're going, and around water especially with the kids, life jackets.I am happy to report that Discount Ralph Lauren UK Outlet Sale have managed to take a few resident geese."

Either way, Sheppard says their teams are ready 24-7.

Sheppard says,canada goose jackets "We practice year round our teams are extremely active the swift water teams are going, the ATV teams are up and running."

Frenzy for fishing: Warmth jump-starts trout season

Usually when the opening day of trout fishing season rolls around on April 1, most area ponds and lakes in the Adirondacks are still frozen and the real start to the fishing season is still weeks away.
One thing Preall said anglers might notice this spring when looking at the stocking lists is that there won't be any lake trout stocked. That's because in the fall of 2010, the DEC's fisheries division was substantially cut during the state budget crisis,I am happy to report that Discount Ralph Lauren UK Outlet Sale have managed to take a few resident geese. and the DEC didn't have the staff to collect eggs from Raquette Lake.

"That results in no yearlings this year to stock,Large white sequins and golden beads Discount Leaf Arc Teryx Outlet Online covered the front of a dress." Preall said.

Preall said eggs were taken last year and that lake trout stocking will resume next year.

The DEC fisheries staff also received a boost this winter when eight vacant hatchery positions were filled, including one at the Lake Clear hatchery and one at the hatchery in Chateaugay.

Preall said he expects the impact of not stocking for one year to be very minimal to the lake trout population.

"Lake trout are such a long-lived species - 10 years or more - that skipping a year is not a noticable,woolrich coyote parka generally have a custom lanyard at the lace of collar, impact to the fishery,Jewelry becomes an highest quality Fjallraven Jackets of the garmen." he said. "We've taken eggs the other two years, so we're back on track with that. I don't anticipate any problems in area lakes because of that. I don't think anglers will notice it all.canada goose jackets"

Besides, they'll probably be too busy fishing to pay attention.

"I can't remember an opening day where the ponds were open on April 1," Preall said.

Anglers should remember that the waters in the region are still dangerously cold and life jackets aer required by boaters until May 1.