lst Responder

By BILL BATES Senior Correspondent

The intersection of the Black Horse Pike and the Prospect Ridge Blvd. (in front of the McDonald\’s) in Mount Ephraim, Camden County, has proven to be a busy one. Two separate MVA\’s have occurred at the intersection in less then a month. Both were serious in nature, but no life threatening injuries occurred as a result of the crashes.

The first accident occurred as a Ford Super-duty pick-up truck was in the south bound lane making a left onto Prospect Ridge Blvd. when it came in the path of a motorcycle that was traveling north causing it to lose control and slide under the front of the pick-up truck. The operator of the cycle had a few minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital by Mount Ephraim – MEPRI BLS 4 duty-crew to be further evaluated. The driver of the pick-up truck had no injuries and signed a refusal of treatment.

The second accident occurred as the Honda Accord was traveling north and making a left into the McDonald\’s when it came in the path of the Ford Explorer. Both vehicles made contact causing the Ford Explorer to run up the curb and into a light fixture and an electrical box at the intersection. The occupants of the vehicles were transported by Mount Ephraim – MEPRI BLS 4 and Haddon Heights BLS 2 to area hospitals to be evaluated.

Both accidents are being investigated by the Mount Ephraim and Haddon Heights Police Departments.

By Bill Cleary

Parker McCay, the law firm that was employed by the City of Gloucester City and represented by former City Solicitor James Maley, is mentioned in a news article published in Monday\’s edition of The Record .

The article is about a controversial plan to transform old Meadowlands dumps into a luxury golf community; and it details the money that politicians and law firms have reaped from the project. Plus it mentions pay-to-play reforms that were passed in 2004 to address this type of situation.

\”EnCap\’s plan has been a cash cow for some New Jersey politicians and the politically connected professionals who help finance their campaigns, state documents show.\”

Encap, from North Carolina, according to the story, \”shelled out more than $13 million in professional fees and political contributions at the same time it was securing hundreds of millions of dollars in tax grants and other forms of public financing and backing from state officials.\”

(The graph is provided by Blue Jersey New Jersey Politics 101).

The article further states, \”Some of the beneficiaries have been the kind of firms whose political contributions were targeted by pay-to-play reforms enacted by the state in 2004 to address the appearance that government was for sale in New Jersey. But those reforms apply only to government contracts, not work commissioned by a private entity like EnCap.

Still, critics say the company\’s largesse and its remarkable record of securing government help for its development plan raises exactly the type of questions the reforms were intended to address.

\”It\’s bound to raise suspicions on the part of taxpayers and residents of the community,\” said Heather Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Citizens Campaign, a civic organization that advocates for pay-to-play reform.

For this article, The Record reviewed documents detailing fees paid to law firms and lobbyists and included only those making in excess of $100,000. Firms receiving big payouts from EnCap include:

McCarter & English of Newark, the state\’s largest law firm, billed EnCap more than $1.25 million. McCarter and English campaign contributions statewide totaled at least $275,000 from 2002 to 2006.

Parker McCay, a South Jersey firm whose chief executive is Philip Norcross, brother of South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross, collected $400,000 as bond counsel. Parker McCay\’s campaign contributions from 2002 to 2006 were nearly $1 million, including more than $40,000 by Philip Norcross to the Bergen County Democratic Organization.

According to Gloucester City Councilman Nick Marchese, Parker McCay was paid $300,000 to defend the City in a lawsuit brought by Mobile Dredging who claimed it was delayed in completing the City Marina at Proprietors Park on time because of poor engineering design. The company filed a lawsuit and received $260,000 judgment against the taxpayers of Gloucester City.

\”The lawyer fees for Mr. Maley\’s work on this lawsuit may even be higher. We are asking Parker McKay to produce those records. Until they do the final payment will be withheld,\” said Marchese.

On April 6, 2007. Age 64. Of Gloucester City. Formerly of Bellmawr. Loving husband of the late Nancy (nee Hillary). Devoted Son of the late William Strack and Edna (nee Toy). Beloved Brother of Flora Nuzzi of Sickerville, Nancy Wescott of Wildwood, Carl Strack of Magnolia and the late William, Robert, Alice Priest and Mae Rumble. Loving step-father of Kathleen Kline of Bellmawr, James Seaton of Gloucester City and Torina L. McCarthy of Gloucester City. Dear grandfather of 11 and great-grandfather of many. Arthur proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy. He was a forklift operator for 23 years for Local Union # 252: Glass, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers in Barrington. Relatives, friends and fellow Union members are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Thursday morning from 9 am to 11 am at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City. Presbyterian Religious Service 11 am in the funeral home officiated by Pastor Don Painter of Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church. Interment with Military Honors in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Gloucester City. There will be no evening viewing. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Arthur L. Strack.

This letter is about the fireman who stole our money and left us in shame. Bob (Robert Kephardt, 35, of South Third Street, Gloucester City), you know what we went threw in 1980 and now you decided to bring it all back with you stealing $7,200 of our hard-earned money earmarked for the Burn Foundation.

All of the Gloucester City volunteer firefighters have been looked down upon by some people in town. This is not fair, and now I am glad it is finally coming to a end with you being arrested for the theft and the crime.

Yet, it is a crime Bob K. I have seen you walking around town if as nothing even happened. And now, because of you, we might have to do away with the Firemen\’s Softball league all together.

The people in the burn hospitals count on the money we send them every year. And, with you being a firemen, I would think you know first hand what it means to them to get treatment. You fought fires and you felt how hot it was in those buildings — and what the flames can do to your body. But, because of your greed, you have taken away our support for the Burn Foundation as far as the softball league.

I cannot begin to understand what your family and friends think about you now. And, then there was all this talk about Pine Grove Fire Company hiding or covering up what happened.

Well, we were bound by law not to discuss the case until there was an arrest. And, now that there has, our president will be coming out with a statement.

Bob, I feel sorry for you. People will not trust you with anything. As for being a volunteer fireman again, I don\’t think that will ever happen unless you move to a new town and change your name.

I hope now that the truth is out, the Volunteers and Pine Grove can get their good names back. Also, I hope we can all heal from this, yet again, black eye.

Jim Everett Sr., Gloucester City

Read more stories on this topic

Little League World Series

The Coolest Little League Coach!

by: Hopeful

Mon Apr 09, 2007

reprinted with permission of Blue Jersey

1:05 AM EDT

The calendar may say April, but it feels like winter. Here\’s a picture I took yesterday to remind you that the trees are in blossom:

 

The Inquirer asks why wealthy and powerful men like State Senator Wayne Bryant feel the need to break the law.   The New York Times has a very interesting profile of Washington Township and how its Smart Growth plan worked too well.   Herb Jackson and John McAlpin explain the state\’s pension problems (again.)   Don Imus continues to apologize for his comments about the Rutgers women\’s basketball team. Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Jackson, and the NAACP all called for his resignation:   James E. Harris, president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, demanded Sunday that Imus \”resign or be terminated immediately.\”   Wayne DeAngelo will run for Assembly in LD14. Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein is running for reelection, and Seema Singh is running for State Senate.   Republicans in LD12 want it chosen for the Clean Elections Program.   A dailyrecord.com headline says \”Property-tax refunds mean more paperwork,\” but the article says \”the process for receiving the rebates will be the same as in past years.\” In future years there may be a direct credit. On the other hand, David Rebovich at politicsnj.com says we still don\’t have meaningful reform.   Okay, it\’s not politics, but I listened to the Devils-Islanders game on the radio yesterday, and will never forget it. The game was meaningless for the Devils and essential for the Islanders to make the playoffs:   Protecting a 2-1 lead late in regulation time, the Islanders saw it slip away when the Devils pulled goalie Scott Clemmensen for an extra skater and John Madden tied the game with nine-tenths of a second remaining. Fortunately the Islanders won the overtime shootout, so both teams make the playoffs.

On April 7, 2007. Age 86, died at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC after a brief illness. Mr. Gleason was a native of Gloucester City, NJ and retired from Mobile Oil Company in Paulsboro. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946 and is a WWII veteran. He served on the USS Cleveland in the South Pacific and North Africa.

Mr. Gleason enjoyed all aspects of nature especially fishing, bicycling, walking the Atlantic City Boardwalk and flying with his pilot buddy, Jack Hofbauer. He lived in Westville, NJ until he recently moved to NC to be with his daughter and her family.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Mary Bovill Gleason, his parents and 3 brothers. He is survived by his daughter, Maryann and husband Ron; grandchildren Judy Revels and husband Bart and Kathleen Caviness and husband Sean; great-grandchildren include Kate, Emma, and Addison Revels and Justin, Will, Kieryn, and Cameron Caviness all of Greensboro, NC. A Mass of Christian Resurrection will be held at 10am Friday at St. Anne\’s Catholic Church: U.S. Route 130 South and Highland Avenue, Westville. Burial with U.S. Marine Corp Honors will follow at New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ. The family will visit with friends from 7-9 pm Thursday at the McCann-Healey Funeral Home, 851 Monmouth St., (at Brown Street) Gloucester City. There will be no morning viewing, please meet directly at the church.

Family Requests that memorial donations in Sterling\’s memory be made to St. Anne\’s Catholic Church: 213 Woodbine Avenue, Westville, NJ 08093. Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Sterling B. Gleason.

The Mayor and City Council of Gloucester City would like to thank all the people who participated in our annual Clean-up Day March 24. Nearly 400 people picked up truckloads of trash from Market Street, the High School, Martin\’s Lake, Miller\’s Pond, the railroad tracks, parks, playgrounds and the ball fields.

These individuals and groups worked hard and should be commended for their volunteerism and community spirit.

The number of groups and individuals are too numerous to mention, and their dedication to this community is appreciated. Also this year, we would like to thank the additional groups and individuals who responded to the article in this newspaper. Some people from outside of the community called in, signed up and participated alongside our residents.

We would also like to thank the various City departments, committees, and employees who participated in this event. Gloucester City continues to move forward and we say, \”Thank you for a job well done!\” Sincerely,

Mayor William P. James

City of Gloucester

DREYER, MYRTLE A.
(Nee Wright), on April 6, 2007, of Bellmawr, formerly of Mantua, age 86.
Loving wife of the late William E. Dreyer. Beloved mother of Leonard Dreyer, Judith and her husband William Gillin and William Dreyer. Devoted grandmother of Doreen and her husband Robert Wentzell, Judith and her husband David Devoe, William and his wife Karen Gillin, Ryan Gillin and his fiancee Kelly Davis and Shanna and Leonard Dreyer. Dear great grandmother of Matthew and Patrick Wentzell, Kristin and Christopher Devoe and William Gillin IV.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Tuesday evening from 7pm to 9pm at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Service and interment private.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mrs. Dreyer\’s memory to: Vitas Inpatient Unit at Kennedy Stratford, 18 E. Laurel Road, 3-East, Stratford, NJ 08084.
Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to
Condolences@
GardnerFuneralHome.com.

LAWRENCE, MARY E.
(nee Scharpf) On April 6, 2007 of Audubon, NJ age 85 yrs.
Beloved wife of the late Bayard J. \”Larry\” Lawrence. Survived by her brother William Scharpf and his wife Eileen of Marlton; also several nieces and nephews William, Karen, Mary Jo, Patricia, Pamela and John.
Mary was a resident of Audubon since 1951. Prior to her retirement, she was a PBX Operator and Secretary for Home Insurance Company in Phila. Mary was an active member of the Altar & Rosary Society at Holy Maternity Church and the Audubon Young at Heart. She and her late husband Larry also volunteered their time at Our Lady Lourdes Hospital in Camden.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Tuesday morning from 9-10:45AM at Holy Maternity Church, 431 W. Nicholson Rd., Audubon followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.
Memorial contributions in Mary\’s name may be donated to Holy Maternity Church.
Arrangements by HENRY FUNERAL HOME, Audubon.