⛽ Freedom Fuel fines | Inquirer South Jersey
And Sen. Cory Booker on a needed “food revolution.”
Good morning, South Jersey. Parts of Gloucester County got more than 5 inches of rain in Thursday’s storms. More thunderstorms are possible today before the skies clear for the weekend. (Assuming the skies get the clearing-out memo.)
Before Freedom Fuel stations were being touted by the White House, six South Jersey locations were fined over environmental transgressions.
Sen. Cory Booker talked healthcare and food during stops in Camden and Mount Laurel on Thursday.
Plus, apple picking is back in South Jersey, and more news of the day.
— Ellen Dunkel (southjersey@inquirer.com)
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Freedom Fuel stations quietly popped up in South Jersey earlier this summer — and then were less quietly touted by the White House for prices that were lower than other gas stations.
In early July, gas at some Freedom Fuel stations was $3.47 a gallon. The 47 was a nod to President Donald Trump.
But it turns out before the White House shouted them out, the owners of six South Jersey Freedom Fuel locations had been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for a variety of environmental violations.
Along with the six Freedom Fuel stations, those fined include 11 others, all owned by asset manager Blue Owl Capital and operated by a Cherry Hill developer and his brother.
Reporters Ximena Conde and Rob Tornoe have the details.
The United States needs a “food revolution,” Sen. Cory Booker said during a swing through South Jersey Thursday.
“What’s stupid is that we’re sitting here talking about the cost of healthcare and how to pay for it, but not why we need so much healthcare in the first place,” the New Jersey Democrat said during a speech for a Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey luncheon at the Westin Mount Laurel.
The country should better support small farmers, Booker said, while he decried that the majority of agricultural subsidies go toward crops that are turned into ultra-processed foods, rather than fruits and vegetables.
He also visited Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, where he packed sandwiches alongside the nonprofit community kitchen’s volunteers.
The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider has more on Booker’s visits.
What to know today
A Camden man suffering a serious and ultimately fatal asthma attack was turned away at Cooper University Hospital during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital secretly paid his family $15 million, NJ.com reports.
Some Jersey towns squandered millions of dollars of opioid settlement funds that were meant for drug prevention and education, as NJ.com uncovered.
It’s almost apple picking season. It was a tough growing year for farmers, but South Jersey orchards are getting ready for fall, including Duffield’s Farm in Sewell.
Clover Meat Market in Burlington Township closed recently but has already reopened under new ownership, according to the Courier-Post.
A Monmouth County farm planned a Dolly Parton corn maze months ago. With her death, it has taken on new meaning. The owners posted a photo of it on Instagram.
A Gloucester City native will be competing in this fall’s 51st season of Survivor. The show introduced the new castaways on YouTube.
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🧠 Trivia time
Which Phillies player holds batting practices in hotel rooms?
A) Luis Arraez
B) Bryce Harper
C) Trea Turner
D) Kyle Schwarber
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re ...
🌊 Planning: A weekend trip to Ocean City.
🍴 Sharing: A gluten-free guide of where to eat while you’re at the Shore.
🍿 Rewatching: Hulu’s Deli Boys amid its recent cancellation.
🏖️ Down the Shore
This “Ask Down the Shore” feature appears as part of our weekly summertime series from Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg. Subscribe to her free Down the Shore newsletter here.
Should Ocean City remain dry? We asked our Shore Line texters.
Not many advocated bringing bars or liquor stores to Ocean City, but there was some sentiment for BYOB.
The best case for remaining dry: For years I wanted BYOs but lately the old charm of this town seems to be drifting away. I have little doubt that the OC would lose its unique identity. It should remain a dry town.
The best case for BYOB: I think it would be nice if Ocean City was at least a BYOB. So many wonderful restaurants, but we just don’t go for that exact reason.
What do you think? Do you prefer it to stay as is or do you wish you could at least bring a bottle of wine to a restaurant? Let us know what you think by replying to Down the Shore.
📸 Photo of the week
🦀 One last crabby thing: Philly chef Liz Grothe goes crabbing in Sea Isle City every year with family. “I’m in it for the love of the game, not the catch,” she says. Go behind the scenes of this summer’s trip, from skiff to kitchen to table.
Hope the weekend brings beautiful weather. But any sort of weekend is nice. Enjoy yours!
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