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HELEN & TONY MOREIRA

Helen T. (Perletta) and Tony B. Moreira of Bellmawr celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 26.

They have four children: Donna Ruggiero of Flemington; Anthony of Marlton; Helen Croker of Deptford; and Frank of Mullica Hill. They have 13 grandchildren.

 

Democrats continue to rule in the state legislature and in most counties in South Jersey. I thought for sure we would see something change as a result of a number of key legislators being arrested this year and charged with abusing their power. Needless to say it is kind of hard to choose who to pick when both Republicans and Democrats have been caught with their hand in the \”Cookie Jar\”.

Voters did send Trenton a message with the defeat of the two questions on the ballot dealing with spending. Hopefully our leaders got the message to stop squandering our tax dollars and begin working on ways to balance the budget. New Jersey is broke. Governor Corzine the supposedly \”Wall Street Genius\” was elected last year after promising he would do a better job of managing state finances. The populace is still waiting for him to live up to that commitment.

I for one couldn\’t understand Assemblyman Roberts\’s proposal to have the 1 percent tax increase, levied last year to balance the budget, to be dedicated to reducing property taxes. If you recall the state was shut down because the Governor was against signing the bill to increase the sales tax to 7 percent. Yet a year later the legislators were all in favor of dedicating the one percent to reduce property taxes. Confused, so am I. Just cut back the sales tax to 6 percent and let us manage our own money.

Locally, three newcomers, (John Hutchinson, Bruce Parry, Kelli Ferry) all endorsed by the \”New Democrats\” were elected on Tuesday to Gloucester City Council. Gone in January will be three members of the Old Democrat regime (Elsie Loebell, Jean Kaye, and Rocky Kormann) left over from the days of former mayors Gorman and Kilcourse.

The \”James Gang\” (Mayor Bill James, Councilmen Nick Marchese, and Jay Brophy) along with Councilman Hagan will now have complete control of the governing body. They have some tough decisions to make in the upcoming year. Example: dealing with a new union contract for the career fire fighters among other things.

I am hoping in 2008 Mayor and Council will do something about changing our present form of government to a Commission form. With that in place our present system of dividing the City into Wards would be eliminated. Thus a candidate for council in the years to come would run at large. Studies have shown that the present system we are using is out-of-date for a community the size of Gloucester City.

Another change I would like to see is an ordinance or resolution that would keep City employees from being in charge of the local Democrat Club. I don\’t know if that would be legal. But I do think we all agree that something has to be done. For too long certain members of the Democrat committee/Club were in charge of the policy passed by previous members of City Council. It was because of the wheeling and dealing hidden behind the closed doors of the Democrat Club that this City was in such disarray.

Mayor James and his fellow council members have done a fantastic job in a short amount of time cleaning up the mess that they inherited from former administrations. I believe they are on the right track; and better things are yet to come.

 

Women\’s College Basketball

LAWRENCEVILLE—Senior guard Janele Henderson of the Rider University women’s basketball team was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week for all games played the first week of the season it was announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. \”We are working on getting Rider looked upon as a different team,\” said head coach Lynn Milligan. \”We want to be known as a team that will show up for every game, work hard and play defense and that effort in the first two games got noticed.\”

Henderson, a 5-9 Brooklyn, New York native out of Bishop Loughlin High, led Rider to a 1-1 week, averaging 22 points per game while playing 77 out of a possible 80 minutes.

\”It is exciting to receive the conference recognition,\” said Henderson. \”I\’m just trying to bring senior leadership to the table and make this a different year.\”

\”Janele stepped up and showed that she can carry the team when she needs to,\” said Milligan who is in her first season as Rider\’s head coach. \”Whether it is on the offensive end or the defensive end, she is someone we can turn to and count on throughout the year.\”

Against Monmouth on November 9, Henderson scored a career-high 25 points as Rider defeated the Hawks 59-46, winning its opening game for only the third time in 17 seasons.

At Maryland Baltimore County on November 11, Henderson played the whole game scoring 19 points, including eight in a row as Rider rallied from an early 13 point deficit. Henderson scored 11 of Rider 22 first half points.

\”We have a different attitude this year,\” Henderson added. \”I think that all of us showed that even if we get down, we aren\’t out of it and that we are going to battle for all 40 minutes. Being a senior and one of the leaders on the team, I had to step up and everyone else was able to follow.\”

The Broncs lost to UMBC 58-53 on a Retriever three-point field goal with 53 seconds left.

This marks the first weekly conference award for the team since then sophomore Kara Borel ’07 was named conference player of the week on December 20, 2004.

\”To be a successful team, you need strong senior leadership,\” Milligan added. \”Janele has worked hard and is determined to finish her senior season a winner.\”

The Broncs host Hofstra on November 15 in Alumni Gym before traveling to Annapolis, Maryland to face Navy at 2:00pm on November 18. \”We are going to put the loss on Sunday behind us, work hard in practice the next few days and we\’ll be ready to face Hofstra on Thursday night,\” Henderson added.

-RU-

 

This could happen to you.

I was barely sitting down when I heard a voice from the other stall saying:
\”Hi, how are you?\”

I\’m not the type to start a conversation in the restroom but I don\’t know what got into me, so I answered, somewhat embarrassed,
\”Doin\’ just fine!\”

And the other person says:
\”So what are you up to?\”

What kind of question is that? At that point, I\’m thinking this is too bizarre so I say:
\”Uhhh, I\’m like you, just traveling!\”

At this point I am just trying to get out as fast as I can when I hear another question.
\”Can I come over?\”

Ok, this question is just too weird for me but I figured I could just be polite and end the conversation. I tell them
\”No…….I\’m a little busy right now!!!\”

Then I hear the person say nervously…

\”Listen, I\’ll have to call you back. There\’s an idiot in the other stall who keeps answering all my questions

 

November 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s College Basketball

MURRAY, KY—The Broncs lost on a last second foul shot to Murray State in the 2007-08 season opener Friday night in the Regional Special Events Center on the Murray State campus. \”Murray State is very good and they didn’t make anything easy for us,\” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. \”We hung and we hung and gave ourselves a chance to win it. We didn’t play poorly.\”

Junior guard Kevin Thomas made one of two foul shots with 0.2 seconds left to give Murray State (1-0) the victory. Thomas finished with 14 points.

\”I was disappointed in that the game deserved overtime, but it isn’t the right thing to comment on that call at the end,\” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. \”We did every thing we could do to put it into overtime. Our kids fought like crazy.\”

Junior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham) scored a career-high 21 points for Rider (0-1). Trailing 65-63, Mansell went to the foul line with 3.5 seconds left and made both free throws to tie the score at 65-65.

\”We obviously didn’t have our ‘A’ game but we didn’t go away,\” Dempsey said. \”We found a way to get that thing tied, and I think if it had gone overtime we could have found a way to win it. We had all the momentum going.\”

As expected, the Broncs were led by Thompson. Surprisingly, it was not preseason All-American and preseason MAAC Player of the Year Jason Thompson, but his little brother Ryan. Sophomore Ryan Thompson ((Mt. Laurel/Lenape) scored a career-high 23 points, after scoring 12 of Rider’s first 19 points of the game, and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Broncs.

Rider senior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) was held to 13 points and six rebounds.

Trailing 55-47, Rider got two free throws from Ryan Thompson and two three-pointers by Mansell to tie the score at 57-57 with three minutes left. Mansell made a three-point field goal with 3:00 remaining to tie the score at 57-57, and made another three to tie the score at 60 with 2:00 left. Mansell led the MAAC in three-point field goals last season.

\”Murray State was very good defensively and weren’t giving Harris any open looks,\” Dempsey said. \”I told Harris when you are one of the top 3-point shooters in the country you aren’t going to get many good looks. He took some tough contested threes and was able to knock them down. He played really clutch.\”

Junior Lamar Johnson’s (Scranton, PA/Scranton) only basket of the game, a three-pointer, cut the lead to 64-63 with 22 seconds left.

\”We grinded it out with a good team and had a chance to win,\” Dempsey said. \”I knew this games was one of the tougher games on our schedule and it has bothered me for months.\”

Murray State jumped out to a 15-7 lead in the first 11 minutes, seven points by Tony Easley, as Rider made just three of its first 10 shots from the field. Easley finished with 11 points.

Holding a 30-28 lead, the Racers out-scored Rider 9-2 to take a 39-30 lead with 15 minutes left to play.

The Racers have now won their last 18 home openers and are 10-0 in RSEC season openers. Danero Thomas led the Racers with 15 points.

The Broncs lost the 2006-07 opener at NJIT, and both the 2004-05 and 20005-06 openers to Bucknell. Rider won the 2003 season opener over Brown and the 2002 opener against Monmouth.

Murray State competes in the Ohio Valley Conference, and like Rider, is picked to finish fourth this season. Austin Peay is the preseason OVC favorite and defending OVC champion.

With an enrollment of 10,350, Murray State plays in the ten-year old Regional Special Events Center (8,600), where they average close to 4,000 fans per game.

Murray State and Rider met for the first time last season as part of the O\’Reilly ESPNU BracketBuster series.

The Racers have won 20 OVC Championships, including 13 of the last 20, and their streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons is the fifth best active mark in Division I.

Murray State has been to the NCAA tournament 13 times, including five times in the last 10 years. Murray State finished in fourth place last year.

The Broncs host the University of Delaware on Saturday, November 17 in the home opener. \”Now we get a chance to come home and hopefully we’ll have a great crowd,\” Dempsey said. \”We’ll be ready to play.\”

-RU-

GISELDA & VINCENT LOBASCIO

Giselda T. (DiClaudio) and Vincent L. Lobascio of Audubon celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Oct. 18.

They have four children: Vincent Jr. of Minneapolis; Jean Murphy of Audubon; Lorraine Bloemker of Washington Township; and the late Louis.

They have three grandchildren.

 

By Bruce Darrow

Is there a better way to spend a fall Saturday afternoon, then watching your favorite team play? To most people this would sound like a dumb question, while others it is considered a no brainer.

As a parent you watch your child grow from a cute little \”T\’ Ball player to a young man playing in front of playoff crowds and cable television. A boy who once turned to the sidelines for reassurance from their parents, now glare into the stands to find that special girl.

Five hours after a stinging playoff lost to Woodbury, I still find it hard to believe the Lion\’s lost. Only one minutes and twenty three seconds stood between another round of playoff football as the Lion\’s held a 21 -20 lead. These \”Cardiac Kids\” were once again in a full 32 minute battle.

This time unlike the other five times when the game was on the line and our Lion\’s walked off with the victory, the tide was turned on the Lion\’s when Woodbury marched 8o yards in 30 seconds to take a 26 – 21 game winning lead with 53 seconds

Trailing in the fourth 20 – 7, Gloucester\’s Adam Dick scored from 3 yards out narrowing the score 20 – 14 with under 5:00 remaining. The Lion\’s defense forced a Woodbury punt on their next possession and with under 3 minutes remaining the Lion\’s took over.

Quarterback Steve Steve Goad hit Brian Collins at the Woodbury 11. The Lion\’s push the ball to the Herd\’s 2 yard line with 1:30 remaining before Goad took a sneak into the end zone giving the Lion\’s a 21 -20 lead after the PAT.

Still the Herd with 1:53 and three timeouts remaining and QB Brian Purnell making his start for the injured Donte Harvey, guided the Herd down field after a VERY unpopular call on a fumble recovery by the Lion\’s Mike Becker was turned back over to the Herd.

Purnell hit running back Sheldon Jackson in the back of the end zone for the winning score.

After this devastating loss I watched the reactions of the parents, fans, players and coaches. Many saying I can\’t believe what just happened. Of course some fans put the blame on a dropped pass, some say WE recovered that fumble, some blame it on an interception. But, many parents wore the loyalty and the passion of this Lion\’s team in their facial expressions. Sadness was the order. Each parent felt worse about their little boy and his team than anything else at the moment.

As I picked up my own son after the game and after a VERY brief conversation, I realized how important the term \”FAMILY\” meant to this team. Fans must realize that NO pass was thrown with the intention to have it intercepted! NO receiver decided to drop a pass! NO player missed a tackle on purpose! NO runner fumbled for no reason. And every player gave 100% effort. The coaches did not make a call which was intended to harm our Lion\’s.

These boys from the starters to the bench players have been together since early August and have been through some tough situations. On the sidelines you see how each player encourages the player who is playing in front of him. You realize that this team is Gloucester City, a hard worker with a strong family unit. This is a testament to the coaching staff.

Gloucester High School Sports is the only diversion many players and parents have in life. This team is responsible for much of the community pride. Football in Gloucester is more than a sport. Saturday football in Gloucester is about unity. It is about young men fulfilling their few dreams. It is young players who face daily struggles, making the best of an opportunity only to please a community. To many this is their only sense of pride.

In Woodbury Saturday parents realized that they have 36 children playing not just one. They felt sorrow for ALL these players. Remember this same quarterback threw many important touchdowns this season, the receivers made many important catches this season, the same missed tackle was made hundreds of times this season and YES we did recover many fumbles this season.

Every March college basketball starts March Madness with 65 teams. By the end of March, 64 teams go home in defeat. Remember that most of these 64 losing teams are conference winners. Champions! Many teams are the most elite programs in the country.

It may be hard to forget the end result of the Woodbury game, but look at the six times this season when Gloucester walked home with the victory. Remember when many families were vacationing, when others were home eating a family dinner, these young men were giving all of Gloucester everything they had Monday through Friday in the heat, in the cold and darkness, then going home to fulfill their educational responsibilities just so Gloucester City can have that Saturday Morning pride each week.

Tomorrow your hurt will be gone, it will be another week of work and the players will begin preparing for next week and in the end the Lion\’s will enter the field on Thanksgiving Day with the same will and desire to walk off with a victory.

 

 

 

Photos by Bruce Darrow-

Prior to the opening kickoff the Lions stand in respect of our Flag as the National Anthem is played. Pictured up front from left #54 Jerry Murphy, #8 Steve Goad, #25 Jeremy Collins, #22 Frank Heitman, #5 Bret Darrow.

Quarterback Steve Goad hit Brian Collins at the Woodbury 11. The Lion\’s push the ball to the Herd\’s 2 yard line with 1:30 remaining before Goad took a sneak into the end zone giving the Lion\’s a 21 -20 lead after the PAT.  

Still the Herd with 1:53 and three timeouts remaining and QB Brian Purnell making his start for the injured Donte Harvey, guided the Herd down field after a VERY unpopular call on a fumble recovery by the Lion\’s Mike Becker was turned back over to the Herd. story continues see photo gallery  

Gloucester High Football Coach Leon Harris with #53 Dan Burrows and #54 Jerry Murphy.

 

 

DESHER, FLORENCE M.
(Nee Watson), on November 8, 2007, of Gloucester Twp., formerly of Bellmawr, age 89.
Beloved wife of the late Henry. Loving mother of Robert, Sr. and his wife Faith. Devoted grandmother of Robert, Jr. and Lorrie. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Desher was a former member of the Sterling Chapter of Deborah Hospital and the Eastern Star.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Monday evening from 7 to 9pm and Tuesday morning from 9 to 10am at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Service 10am, Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Interment Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Florence\’s memory to: Deborah Hospital Foundation, PO Box 820, Browns Mills, NJ 08015-0820.
Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to Condolences@Gardner
FuneralHome.com