APRIL’S CHEERS AND JEERS

ClearysNotebook:

Cheers and Jeers

By Bill E. Cleary

A quick review of the good, bad and ugly to cross our radar recently.

Cheers to the Gloucester City Sportsman Athletic Club who are holding their 50^th Anniversary Awards Banquet on April 28^th. The members have sponsored hundreds of teams and events over the years including, but not limited to, baseball, softball, soccer, and basketball, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the MS foundation and many more. The Sportsman AC is probably most proud of its community reach program. Year after year, the club has donated money and man power to so many worthy causes. Congratulations.

Cheers to Councilman Bill Hagan. If it hadn\’t been for Mr. Hagan joining forces with the \”New\” Democrats in January, Gloucester City would have remained in the grips of the old regime until after the next election. Can you imagine! The Lame Ducks would have had an additional 365 days to hide their mistakes. Much of their incompetence would have remained a secret. Thanks Bill for seeing the light. One vote can make a difference.

Cheers to the police officers from all over South Jersey and Pennsylvania who volunteered to help search for the City\’s K-9 dog, Scotty. And also a big thank you to those anonymous people who dug into their pockets for the $6,200 reward. The dog is still missing. Anyone with information should call 856-456-0900.

Jeers to the Gloucester City fireman who stole $7200 from the annual Softball Marathon. Monies raised from that event went to support the Crozier Burn Center in West Chester. You Sir are a thief and merit whatever punishment you receive and then some.

Cheers to Little League and softball coaches who volunteer their time to teach the game to youngsters throughout the area. Parents, these men and women are not babysitters. Come out to the games and support your kids. Remember too, it is only a game. The umpire is volunteering his or her time; give them the respect they deserve.

Cheers to the Mount Ephraim firemen who partook in Read across America Day last month. The firemen took time to read to the students of the Mary Bray Elementary School. Speaking of firemen, hats off to the members of the Gloucester City Fire Department who took some local kids to a recent Phillies game.

Jeers to Governor Jon Corzine for violating both the speed limit and the state law requiring that he wear a seat belt. Thank God his health is improving each day. And thank God no one was killed because of his carelessness. The reason he was speeding, according to the media; he was late for a photo op at the meeting between the Rutgers girls\’ basketball team and Don Imus.

Cheers to the Haddon Heights VFW Post 1958. The post offers borough residents a new American Flag free of charge in exchange for a worn/tatter flag. Resident John Morphew, a Navy veteran, said he was pleased with the program. He summed it up this way. \”I want the flag to be treated respectfully; I fought for it for 22 years. This flags means something to me.\”