BACC member and consultative business-CPA, Tony Novak joins the Beacon for the first time to discuss trends in accounting and how Nantuxent guides local business owners through difficulty and triumph.

We once again have the pleasure to welcome Laurie Latorre from LaLa Beading creations for a chat about innovations and gifting.

Patricia joins the Beacon to promote the upcoming Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce Business Growth Accelerator.

Looking for a deck builder in Vineland, NJ or Cumberland County?In this episode of the Bridgeton Beacon, host Meg McCormick Hoerner speaks with Pete Fury of Pete's Carpentry, a South Jersey craftsman with more than 25 years of experience helping homeowners improve and maintain their properties.Pete discusses custom deck construction, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, window replacement, tiling, and the importance of working with a licensed and insured local contractor. Whether you're planning a new outdoor living space, replacing an aging deck, or tackling a larger renovation project, this episode offers practical advice from someone who has spent decades serving South Jersey homeowners.Pete's Carpentry serves homeowners throughout:Vineland, NJBridgeton, NJMillville, NJCumberland CountySouth JerseyPete's Carpentry Services include:Custom Deck ConstructionDeck RepairsKitchen RemodelingBathroom RemodelingWindow ReplacementTilingGeneral CarpentryHome Improvement Projects📞 Call or Text: 856-305-4598https://www.cumberlandcountynj.govhttps://www.bridgetonbeacon.comhttps://www.bridgetonbeacon.com/businessA professionally designed deck can:Expand your outdoor living spaceCreate a gathering place for family and friendsImprove backyard functionalityIncrease curb appealAdd long-term property valueThe Bridgeton Beacon is a nonprofit community media initiative highlighting local businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, history, arts, culture, and economic development throughout Cumberland County and South Jersey.

This episode is a behind-the-scenes recording session for the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce Virtual Expo series, produced by the Bridgeton Beacon. It is not the polished Virtual Expo. These are highlights from the fun/casual recording session where local businesses record focused segments that will later become stand-alone Virtual Expo videos with transcripts, articles, and highlights.Audit Your Google Business Authority: https://audit.local.visible.info/This program is built around specific, non-generic, authority-building content.Instead of asking businesses to broadly describe themselves, the series focuses on real customer questions, needs, and problems so each segment is more useful, more memorable, and more likely to work across search, summaries, social, and evergreen chamber content.Featured participantsLaLa Beading CreationsCustom jewelry and magnifier necklaces.Phone: 693-819-2222Email: [email protected] Passion ProfessorBusiness growth and AI education through the Bridgeton Business Growth Accelerator Program.Website: https://ThePassionProfessor.comEmail: [email protected] problem solving and business planning support.Website: https://Nantuxent.comPhone/Text: 856-237-9199About the Virtual Expo seriesThe Bridgeton Area Chamber Virtual Expo is a series of focused business segments designed to help local businesses publish useful content tied to one clear topic, customer problem, or area of expertise.Each finished segment is designed to support:- YouTube publishing- transcript-based articles- highlight clips for social media- chamber website promotion- participant media kits and reuse on their own channelsProgram support and linksBridgeton Beaconhttps://BridgetonBeacon.comVisible.infohttps://Visible.infoFAQWhat is this episode?This is the recording session, not the finished Virtual Expo.What will the finished Virtual Expo be?A collection of edited, focused business videos with transcripts, articles, and highlights published across chamber and Beacon channels.Why are these presentations focused on one topic?Because specific content is more useful than general business promotion. It shows expertise more clearly and creates stronger long-term digital assets.Why might the hosts interrupt or ask someone to try again?Because the session is a production process. The goal is to shape the strongest final segment, not just capture an unstructured conversation.How can businesses join a future Virtual Expo session?Reach out through Bridgeton Beacon or the Chamber and come prepared with one specific customer problem, topic, or question your business can explain clearly.

Are chiropractic “cracks” really necessary—or can gentle, modern techniques get you better results without the fear factor? In this episode of the Bridgeton Beacon, attorney and host Meg McCormick Hoerner sits down with Joe Falcone, Regional Marketing Director for Rise Chiropractic of South Jersey, to demystify what today’s chiropractic care actually looks like.Joe shares how Rise Chiropractic, founded by Dr. Shane Becker, has grown from a single Maple Shade office into a practice serving South Jersey and Bucks County, PA, with a mission to build the healthiest community possible. You’ll hear how they use detailed evaluations, nerve scans, and x‑rays to look at the entire nervous system—not just a sore neck or low back—before building a personalized care plan.They dive into how Rise helps:Weekend warriors, golfers, student athletes, and teachers who spend all day on their feetKids, teens, pregnant moms (using the Webster technique), and seniors into their 90sPatients who are nervous about traditional “twist and crack” adjustments, using gentle torque release and instrument‑assisted careJoe and Meg also break down peripheral neuropathy in plain English—what it is, why it often starts in the spine, and how a non‑surgical, drug‑free protocol can help people struggling with numbness, burning, tingling, and balance issues in their hands and feet. If you’ve ever been told that surgery or more medication are your only options, this conversation offers a hopeful alternative.Whether you’ve never seen a chiropractor, had a bad experience in the past, or you’re just chiropractic‑curious, this episode gives you a clear, stigma‑free look at how modern chiropractic can fit into a long‑term health plan.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Meet Joe Falcone and Rise Chiropractic of South Jersey02:30 – Who they help: athletes, teachers, and weekend warriors06:30 – From pediatrics to patients in their 90s (plus pregnancy care)09:10 – Peripheral neuropathy explained and non‑surgical options13:10 – Torque Release Technique vs. “traditional” chiropractic21:10 – Office hours, first‑visit expectations, and patient education24:25 – Community events and how to meet the team in person📍 Rise Chiropractic of South Jersey300 South Linola Road, Maple Shade Township, NJ (Kingsway Plaza, near the Moorestown Mall, right off Routes 38 and 73)Phone: 856‑492‑6936Website: 🎧 Work with our chiro marketing partnersIf you’re a chiropractor or you run multi‑location chiropractic offices, check out:afterinjuries.comvisible.infoWe help chiropractors become the cited local expert for their most important case types, get found in the map pack, and show up in AI summaries.

Explore the creative process and seasonal offerings of Laurie LaTorrre from La La Beating Creations, including custom jewelry, innovative designs like magnifying necklaces, and tips for seasonal gift ideas.

Thinking about going solar in South Jersey but not sure if it actually saves money—or if the offers you’re getting are even realistic?In this conversation, we walk through how a real solar analysis should work for South Jersey homeowners in 2026—starting with a single electric bill and ending with a 20–25 year view of your costs.We get into:How to read the 12–24 month usage history on your electric billWhat a true “utility vs. solar” cost comparison over 20–25 years looks likeWhy some South Jersey neighborhoods are temporarily restricted from new solar connectionsHow roof age, condition, and trees affect whether solar makes sense right nowThe trade‑offs between owning panels, leasing them, or using a PPARealistic timelines from “maybe” to permits, interconnection, and a live system Our goal with this episode is to help you ask sharper questions, spot the difference between real analysis and a sales script, and understand how solar fits into the reality of South Jersey utilities, housing stock, and budgets today.

Meg is joined by Debbie Boykin-Greenberg to shine a light on the upcoming Bridgton Holiday House Tour, a cherished annual event that showcases the historic homes and vibrant community of Bridgeton, New Jersey. With a rich history spanning 25 years, the tour invites visitors to explore various homes, local businesses, and attractions, emphasizing the walkability of the area and the festive spirit of the holiday season.takeawaysThe Bridgeton Holiday House Tour is a 25-year tradition.The event features a variety of historic homes and buildings.Visitors can enjoy local restaurants and shops during the tour.The tour is designed to be walkable, enhancing the experience.Bridgeton boasts the largest historic district in New Jersey.Tickets are reasonably priced and available online.Gallery 50 serves as the starting point for the tour.The event includes unique attractions like the Hope Bluff display.Local artists will showcase handmade crafts at Gallery 50.The tour is a great way to kick off the holiday season.Sound Bites"Everything in this tour is walkable.""You can go in either direction.""Head over to Gallery 50 between 3 and 7."Chapters00:00 Bridgton Holiday House Tour Overview05:28 Event Details and Community Involvement

Hello and welcome back to the Bridgeton Beacon Podcast. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the Bridgeton Urban Enterprise Zone Block Party — and what a day it was. The last of summer, with perfect weather, and the heart of our community out in full force.Scene SettingI strolled through East Commerce Street and Laurel, all the way to Mayor Aitken Drive, where the streets were alive with energy. Vendors, local artists, nonprofits spreading the word, and of course, the irresistible smells of grilled and fried favorites filled the air. Families moved between attractions for kids, friends gathered over food, and everywhere you looked there was a sense of Bridgeton coming together.Shout-out to LeadershipA special mention goes to Stephanie Gonzales, director of the Bridgeton UEZ. She seemed to be in two or three places at once, keeping everything running smoothly while updating the crowd from the main stage. Her energy really set the tone for the day.Activities & AttractionsAnd there was truly something for everyone. Gallery 50 offered 30-minute painting classes. Over at Steamworks, you could design your own wooden business card holders. Hopeloft transformed the McCormick Theater into a movie and craft zone. Kids lined up for glitter art face painting by Ashley Logan, while others made their way to the Kohanzig Zoo’s mobile petting zoo or got a turn riding ponies from Flying First Class Equestrian Center.The Bridgeton Public Library shared free books and resources, while firefighters and police officers hosted a meet-and-greet. Nonprofits and community partners lined the sidewalks, offering information and inspiration.For the kids, there were free hamburgers and hot dogs — first come, first served — courtesy of Good Dog Therapy. And in the entertainment zone, powered by KYMO and Games on the Go, families found a free gaming truck, free haircuts, arts and crafts tables led by Girl Scout troops, live music throughout the day, and DJs keeping the crowd moving.Community & MerchantsWhat stood out most to me was the pride of our local entrepreneurs. UEZ merchants set up tables showcasing handmade art, delicious foods, and unique crafts. There was even a UEZ entrepreneur table sharing information about incentives for businesses, plus a free photo booth capturing memories of the day.ClosingGreat energy. Great people. Great merchants. All of it happening right here in the historic heart of Bridgeton, New Jersey. The Block Party wasn’t just an event — it was a celebration of arts, community, and the spirit that makes Bridgeton special.This has been the Bridgeton Beacon Podcast — thanks for joining me as we highlight the people and events that keep our community shining bright.