FRNJ Most-Read Stories of 2020
By Clyde Hughes |AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY — Front Runner New Jersey set a record for views, visitors and articles posted in 2020. Thank you for ready.
Below are a list of our most read stories in 2020. First stories that just missed making our Top 10 most-read list, in no particular order.
South Jersey Power List: An FRNJ Update to InsiderNJ’s 2020 African-American Power List
Darwin Cooper Jr. Wants a Chance in Cumberland County Freeholder Race
Pamela Thomas-Fields Prepares For Multiple Elections For AC Mayor
Uncle Dewey Changes Ownership; New Beginnings For Rick Gray
Education, Faith Inspires RCBC’s Covena Francis-Denton to Help Others
Jack Surrency Ready to Fight for His Cumberland County Freeholder Seat
Youthful Alexander Bland Takes Charge of Cape May County NAACP
Andrew Parker III Changes Game as Educator, EHT Committee Member
Lt. Wilber Santiago Makes Connections With Atlantic City Police, Community
Mary Cross Inspires Voters with New Song
Rev. Kevin Brown Hears Calling To Lead The Perfecting Church
Here are the top 10 most-read stories on FrontRunnerNewJersey.com based on your clicks. Five will be revealed today (Monday) and the other five, including our most-read story of 2020 on Tuesday.
No. 10 Former Miss America Suzette Charles Readies for ‘Phase 2’ of Career: https://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2019/12/04/former-miss-america-suzette-charles-readies-for-phase-2-of-career/
Our story one the fabulous Ms. Charles was originally written in December 2019, but it took off along Black History Month when readers started to follow it. It also got picked up by some entertainment blogs that also gave it an impressive boost throughout the year.
—————————————————————————————–
No. 9 Rowan’s Mayra Arroyo Uplifts Students, Others In ‘Blessed’ Journey: https://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2020/07/31/rowans-mayra-arroyo-uplifts-students-others-in-blessed-journey/
Ms. Arroyo’s inspiring story was part of our original package introducing our FRNJ La Prensa column, which has been well received. Her story is also the most-read story in our new column as well.
——————————————————————————————
No. 8 Rev. Albert Morgan, God’s Mailman, Delivers in Bridgeton, Community: https://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2020/06/02/rev-albert-morgan-gods-mailman-delivers-in-bridgeton-community/
Pastor Morgan is the leader of the influential Union Temple Baptist Church and was just re-elected to the Bridgeton School Board. He said he is first and foremost, God’s Mailman.
—————————————————————————————————–
No. 7 Tribute to Pioneering Publisher Earl Harvey: In His Own Words: https://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2020/10/13/tribute-to-pioneering-publisher-earl-harvey-in-his-own-words/
FRNJ and many others in Philadelphia and Atlantic City were stunned by the death of publisher and marketing giant Earl Harvey in October. FRNJ was preparing a story on him at the time of his death and the story came from an interview with him less than a week before he died.
————————————————————————————————————–
No. 6: Judge Demetrica Todd-Ruiz Makes Difference on Bench, in Life
History-making Judge Todd-Ruiz was born and raised in Bridgeton. The story chronicles her return to Cumberland County after college to come the first African-American female judge to serve in Vineland.
———————————————————————————————————
No. 5 Terence Johnson Leads By Example at Cumberland Regional: https://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2020/01/12/terence-johnson-leads-by-example-at-cumberland-regional/
Mr. Johnson capture the lofty title of Vice Principal of the Year in New Jersey and one of several national winners. The former football coach is now a fixture at Cumberland Regional H.S.
—————————————————————————————————–
No. 4 Atco’s Secret Black Lives Matter Rally Goes Off Without a Hitch: https://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2020/06/07/atcos-secret-black-lives-matter-rally-goes-off-without-a-hitch/
This story, originating from a tip by the Center for Cooperative Media, tells the story how the mostly-white town of Atco in Camden County pulled of its own Black Lives Matter march against ferocious blowback from many town residents.
———————————————————————————————-
No. 3 La’Quetta Small Meets Challenges as Atlantic City HS Principal, First Lady
La’Quetta Small had the unique challenge of running Atlantic County’s largest high schools in the middle of a worldwide pandemic while having all eyes on her as Atlantic City’s ‘first lady’ as wife to Mayor Marty Small Sr.
——————————————————————————————-
No. 2 Women Come Together Online to Create Juneteenth Festival
FRNJ was first alerted to this happening through the Black-Owned New Jersey Facebook Group. Inspired by death of George Floyd, four Gloucester County women came together to uplift the community and local black businesses with a impromptu Juneteenth celebration and found support from all corners of South Jersey.
———————————————————————————————
Most Read FrontRunnerNewJersey.com story 2020 – Can You Smell What Rick Gray Is Cooking on Route 40? Backyard BBQ:
Rick Gray and his staff at Rick’s Backyard. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography 
Two members of Rick’s Backyard staff serving up a takeout meal at Rick’s Backyard Barbecue and Grill Pig and Beef Roast on Saturday, Oct. 24. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography 
Rick Gray shows off his ribs cooking at Rick’s Backyard on Saturday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography
Rick Gray could not have picked a more challenging time to go into the restaurant business, taking over for Dewey Johnson off Route 40 in Atlantic County to open Rick’s Backyard BBQ & Grill. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions, Gray thrived and even extended his hours to an extra day to accommodate customers at his outdoor grill.
Note from AC JospeH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com., lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will do directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading.
About Author
