A Fond Farewell to Carr’s Hardware

William E. Cleary Sr. | Founder/Editor of Cleary’s Notebook News

Gloucester City News photo, August 29, 1974

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 24, 2026)--All good things come to an end, eventually — or so the saying goes. Gloucester City felt the weight of that truth this month when Jean Carr, owner of Carr’s Hardware, announced she was retiring and closing the family business on March 12. With that decision, a remarkable 58‑year chapter in the city’s history quietly came to a close.

The Carr family’s hardware legacy began in 1968, when the family patriarch, Franklin Carr Sr., opened the original store at 520 Monmouth Street in the heart of the Business District. At the time, Garwood’s Hardware stood directly across the street, and several other shops throughout town sold tools, lumber, and supplies. When the business moved to its new location, Frank Jr., owned the business. And, his brothers, Bill and Richard, worked there.

Among them were: Continue reading →

Beyond Hospital Walls: A More Accessible New Jersey

For many, a simple walk down the street is something taken for granted. But for people with mobility, vision and other functional challenges, a cracked sidewalk, a missing curb ramp, a tree root, or a misplaced sign or utility pole like in this photo, can be a major barrier, turning a short trip or stroll with friends into an impossible journey. A dedicated team from Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) and community partners believes that true healthcare doesn’t stop at the hospital exit, it extends to the very streets where patients live their lives.

In a unique and growing collaboration, members of Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute’s MS Center and Department of Neurology, have joined forces with students from Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, local schools, girl scouts, and the Northeastern County Community Council of the National MS Society to tackle this everyday obstacle. Their mission is to help people live better lives not just by treating the body, but by helping to reshape the world outside.

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Nancy Barone, 85, of Collingswood

On March 20, 2026, of Collingswood, NJ. She was 85 years old.

Beloved wife of 39 years to Frank Barone, Jr. Dear mother of Michael (Helen) Nicolosi and John Daniels. Loving grandmother of Tyler and Jennifer. She is also lovingly survived by her nieces, Kathleen, Lisa and Lori and nephew, Alfred.

Nancy was a graduate of St. Maria Goretti High School in Philadelphia, PA and was a longtime employee, along with her brother, Alfred, at Mother’s Cheesecake in Burlington, NJ. She was a member and former board member of Lodge #494 Alighieri-Garibaldi Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy. She also was a member of Jetsetters Seniors of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish.

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HOME COUNTRY: Spring mornings are a lot like Christmas.

Spring mornings are a lot like Christmas. Each day we get up and go out into the yard or walk along the creek or visit the horses in the pasture. And each day, each morning, we find something new the sun has brought us.

Pinfeather leaves of an unbelievable green now start showing on cottonwoods that have stood like stark ghostly frames all through the cold winter. Hopeful blades of grass peek through clumps of brown left over from last summer’s verdant pasture. Everywhere we look there is something new and different.

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DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center to Reopen April 1

The DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve welcomes visitors for the 2026 season when it reopens Wednesday, April 1. The DNREC facility, managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays in April, adding Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from May through August.

NJ American Water, Foundation Provide $2.2M+ to Communities in 2025

New Jersey American Water today announced that it, along with its employees, provided more than $1.6 million through grants, charitable contributions, and program support to New Jersey organizations last year. With an additional $509,500 from the American Water Charitable Foundation, total charitable support topped $2.2 million, as detailed in the company’s 2025 Community Impact Report.

“Our commitment to New Jersey goes far beyond our infrastructure,” said Mark McDonough, President of New Jersey American Water. “Together, with the American Water Charitable Foundation, we’re investing in programs that drive meaningful, lasting impact across the communities we proudly call home.”

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Assembly Passes Bill Boosting Advocacy for Disabled Patients

Donlon, Murphy bill would authorize patients with developmental disabilities to have a designee accompany them during their hospital stay

(TRENTON) – Working to ensure a level of support for hospital patients who are unable to advocate for themselves, the New Jersey General Assembly today passed Bill A2259. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Carol Murphy, is designed to strengthen protections for hospital patients with developmental disabilities.

The bill would authorize patients with developmental disabilities to have a designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver to accompany them in accordance with hospital policies necessary to ensure patient safety, privacy, infection control and clinical care.

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From Fanfiction to the Big Screen: Turn Your Favorite Stories Into Movie Trailers

Reading a beautifully written novel or an intricately plotted piece of fanfiction paints vivid pictures in the mind. Translating those mental images into actual video clips used to be an impossible dream for fans and creators. Today, turning cherished written moments into captivating movie trailers is incredibly simple and highly accessible. By visiting the S2V website, anyone can take descriptive text and transform it into stunning visual sequences in minutes. The core engine driving this seamless visualization is Sora 2, an advanced tool that excels at understanding narrative prompts and rendering them with breathtaking realism.

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Fatal Crash Investigation

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at approximately 5:55 a.m., a fatal crash occurred in the 2900 block of North Front Street. The incident involved multiple individuals. A female was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased at 6:53 a.m. Another female from the same vehicle was also transported to a local hospital and is currently listed in critical condition. A third individual, from another vehicle, was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Additional details will be shared as they become available.

Van Drew Urges Sherrill to Act on Soaring Utility Bills

Congressman Van Drew renewed his call for immediate action from Governor Sherrill as utility bills across South Jersey continue to skyrocket, with many families now paying delivery fees that are double or even triple their actual energy usage.

“People in South Jersey are opening their bills and seeing something that just does not make sense,” said Congressman Van Drew. “In many cases, the delivery fees are higher than the cost of electricity itself. That is not normal, and it is not acceptable. For years, the state made bad decisions. They shut down reliable energy sources like nuclear, gas, and coal plants, including Beesley’s Point coal plant, which was supposed to be converted to natural gas but was instead shut down. They took dependable power off the grid and never replaced it. Instead, they poured billions into offshore wind projects that were never going to deliver affordable, reliable energy. Now we are forced to import energy from other states at a much higher cost, and that failure is being dumped directly onto the backs of our residents through these outrageous delivery fees.

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Looking for a summer job? Gloucester County is hiring!

Join the team as a Buildings & Grounds Assistant/Helper earning $17/hour while helping maintain county facilities and grounds. It’s a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and make an impact in your community.

Gloucester County residents preferred. Apply online at www.gloucestercountynj.gov or email jobs@gloucestercountynj.gov Don’t miss out—apply today!