Atlantic City gives kids a different kind of snow day

Atlantic City Director of Youth Services Christina Noble outside the ‘Great Day’ bus.

A group of Atlantic City students were treated to a twist on a snowy day Monday.

No flag fell in town, but students could choose to ski, snowboard or tubing from Big Snow at the American Dream Mall.

The trip to East Rutherford, Bergen County, was the first trip for the city’s “Great Day” news bus, which Mayor Marty Small has said will reduce the cost of transportation for youth and senior services.

The bus refers to Small’s mantra, which he uses to begin and end each speech: “It’s a great day here in the city of Atlantic City. Can we say, ‘Great day’?”

Atlantic City focuses on helping young people have experiences beyond the “48 blocks” of their hometown.

“This is monumental,” Christina Noble, the city’s director of youth services, said of the maiden voyage.

She noted that as small as the town is, students rarely venture beyond its borders.

“We really just want to expose our young people to as many different things as we possibly can,” she said.

Mayor Marty Small has taken some flak for the expense, but said programs like this are why it’s worthwhile.

“Did the kids say they were excited?” he asked a group of reporters. “That’s what’s important.”