\” Look who showed up at the class of 57 luncheon Saturday\”.

your friend, Rick Gonzales

 

Photo: The team waits for practice to begin……….talk about cold….can\’t we play this game in the gym? See Photo Gallery

The game plan for the BIG game is just about complete. Both teams are practicing, one open to the public and the other at an undisclosed location. To the players last year\’s game is not lost in their memory it is still etched in their minds. Both players and coaches are nervous about making any bold statements, but as Wednesday approaches, YES Wednesday not Thursday; I am sorry we are talking about the GHS Junior – Senior Girls Powder Puff Game not the Rams – Lions Football Game.  

The daring Junior Class is the confident team coming in. They have invited the Senior Team to watch their pre-game preparation while the senior\’s have been unwilling to reveal their game plan. Last year\’s star now a Senior Leanna Wiley proclaimed a win over the inexperienced junior class by 8 points while fellow Senior Britney Boulden feels as though it will be a sleeper with a 14 point win.

The new junior team will be led by quarterback Tabatha Dick. Look for the juniors to open this game up early with the speedy Erin Mac Adams and Jean Marie Wiley. At the Sunday afternoon press conference Mac Adams predicted that if the senior\’s are lucky we will be nice and win by only 14. Junior wide out Wiley claims she will not be out done by her senior sister Leanna predicts a 2 touchdown win.

On Wednesday evening at the GHS field both teams will battle it out for the bragging rights. The halftime entertainment will be by the ALL MALE cheerleading squads by both the Junior & Senior class. This battle may be closer then the football game. These men have been working hard on their Pom-Pom routine. Expect the unexpected! These boys will tumble, split and build pyramids in the battle of the cheerleaders.

This game is a senior class fundraiser and the cost of admission for the 7:00 pm game is $1.00. Junior Marissa Cooper warns \”it won\’t even be close. Get your hot dogs and hot chocolate early because it will be a long night for the seniors\”.

Author/photos by Bruce Darrow

Photo: The cheerleaders practice some cheers for Wednesday night\’s Powder Puff game………….as you can see some of the guys were really getting into it…

 

MEALEY, HELEN J.
On November 18, 2007 (nee Houser) of Gloucester City, NJ. Age 69 yrs.
Beloved wife of Franklin \’Skip\’ Mealey. Loving motherof Richard (Darlene) and Desmond (Debbie) Sooy. Devoted grandmother of Nicole Sooy and Faith Saraceni and great grand daughter Rikee-Lyn. Dear sister of Frank, Walter \’Conk\’, Herbert, Robert and John Houser.
Mrs. Mealey was loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, who devoted her life to taking care of her family.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the ETHERINGTON-CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, 700 Powell St., Gloucester City. Funeral services will be held 7:00pm at the Funeral Home. Interment to be held at the convenience of the family in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Gloucester City.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations in Mrs. Mealey\’s name be made to the VFW War Memorial, c/o Townsend C. Young VFW Post 3620, 27 N. Burlington, St., Gloucester City, NJ 08030.

HILLARD, KIMBERLY R. BYRD
Of Collingswood, NJ on November 13, 2007, age 45.
She is survived by her 3 children, Charisma, Charles and Karrey Byrd; 1 granddaughter, Olivia Carmichael; a sister, Dawn Sappho; a brother, Bradley Wilson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services: Wednesday 11AM at the CARL MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 831 Carl Miller Blvd. Camden, NJ where friends may call after 9am. Interment will be private.

GIORDANO, STELLA B.
(Nee Jagodzinski), of Sicklerville, formerly of Berlin & Audubon, peacefully on Nov. 14, 2007.
Beloved wife for 59 years to Salvatore P. \’Sam\’ Giordano; devoted mother of Rosann Kureczko & her husband, Stan of Atco; adoring grandmother of Staci Ann Thompson of Brooklyn, NY & Marc E. Thompson of Berlin; sister-in-law of Jean Colligan & her husband, Al of Haddon Twp, and Tony Giordano of Gresham, OR.
For 47 years, Mrs. Giordano & her family lived in Audubon where they belonged to St. Vincent Pallotti RC Church. Stella was especiallydevoted to bingo in those years. In retirement, Stella & Sam lived with their daughter in Berlin and now reside in Sicklerville.
Viewing & Funeral Tuesday 10 AM in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel RC Church, 178 W. White Horse Pike, Berlin. Funeral MASS 11 AM.
Interment in St.Joseph\’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.
The family suggests donations in Stella\’s memory to CONTACT Community Helplines, P.O. Box 8465, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.
Arr. by BLAKE-DOYLE FUNERAL HOME, Collingswood.

SPECHT, STELLA R.

On November 15, 2007 (nee Pacskowski) of Gloucester City, NJ, age 86.
She was the beloved wife of the late Richard G. Specht and loving mother of Linda Schmidt (Richard) and Candy Koenig (John). Loving grandmother of Julie Cummings (Rich), Amy Winters (Chris), and Stephen Schmidt (Kathy). Loving \’Big Grandmom\’ to Alexandria and Kaleigh Cummings, Addison Winters and Elizabeth Schmidt. Her dear sister Sophia Gross and cherished sister-in-law Margaret Baskowsky also survive her.
Stella enjoyed spending time with her family, caring for her pets, taking long walks, going on casino bus trips and shopping in Philadelphia. She was a very independent, hard-working woman. Stella enjoyed keeping busy and worked at Air Seal Glass and then at Thermoseal Glass Corp in Gloucester City which she retired from while in her 70\’s. Her spirit of life will be missed by those who loved her.
Her funeral service will be private at the request of the family. If desired, memorial donations in Stella\’s name may be made to the Animal Adoption Ctr., PO Box 4017, Lindenwold, NJ 08021.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the ETHERINGTON-CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ.

 

PAPPALARDO, NINA
(nee Faillacci) on November 16, 2007 of Bellmawr. Age 84.
Beloved wife of the late Sebastian. Loving mother of Salvatore of Bellmawr, Josephine Sposto and her husband Anthony of Somers Point, Alfred and his wife Diane of Margate, Maria Lester of Somers Point and Ronald and his wife Denine of Erial. Caring grandmother of Ninnette Wall and her husband John, Jason, Monica, Vincent Nicholas, Erica and the late Anthony, Jr. Dear Great Grandmother of Courtney, Joey, Anthony and Jonathan.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing Tuesday morn-ing from 9:15 to 10:45 am at Annunciation BVM RC Church, 601 W. Browning Road, Bell-mawr. Funeral Mass 11:00 am at Church. Interment private.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nina\’s name to Deborah Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 820 Browns Mills, NJ 08015-0820.
Expressions of sympathy may be emailed to Condolences@Gardner FuneralHome.com

 

 

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

When I was new to this country, I had regular\” episodes of misunderstanding\” about the way of life Japanese. Episodes that taught me that Western thinking and Japanese thinking did not, could not, and would not match. Episodes that always left me muttering to myself that I had been in Japan far too long, even though I had just arrived. I haven\’t had such an episode for many years now, and perhaps that means the same thing: I have been here too long. Yet, the other day I had a lulu of a situation.

 

As I have done many times for that past several years–ever since my three kids went to the states to attend high school–I walked to my local post office to wire them finances. As a veteran, I came prepared: I had my personal stamp. I had also brought copies of my last many times I had wired them money.

I had my postal saving passbook also. I had my alien registration card, my passport, and business card. All this because I always feared something would go wrong. But I had no difficulties what so ever in numerous tries. Which meant the post office was due.

I knew this the second I greeted the clerk in Japanese and he answered me in English. A bad sign. We were not going to communicate at all.

I told him I wanted to wire money to the States. I had the necessary form already filled out. He accepted this and began to peruse it carefully, licking his chops like a wolf before a lamb.

And then–I knew it!–he sucked his teeth.

My American bank did not have a street address, he said. It was impossible to send the money. Oh really? I displayed copies of my many previous transactions. My area in Oregon is too small for street addresses, I explained. It\’s almost too small for streets too.

The bank name and routing number were all I really needed, Trust me.

He then shuffled through the copies. Who could have OK\’d these!?he asked.

I pointed to his superior sitting 3 meters away and he dropped the topic. Only to soon suck his teeth once again and shake head. Why?

\”He wanted to know, \”If the money will end up with your children. Have you written living expense\’ as purpose? It will not be your living expense.\”

 

Again I said that was what his superior had instructed me to write.

Now he shuffled back to his boss. The two huddled for a hushed conversation and then the clerk returned, beaming as if he had just saved the banking business from collapse.\”You must write your \’children\’s living expense\’ or it is unacceptable!\”

So I did and he went ahead with the transaction, taking both my passbook and alien registration. Only to stop cold.

 

The names on my passbook and alien registration were different! He almost screeched this. I explained the alien registration contained my middle name but my passbook did not. My postal account dates to the 1980s and I had never entered my middle name. He handed everything back and apologized that he could not make the transaction.\”Now wait,\” I said \”it\’s my money/ you have a photo I.D. I have done this dozens of times. Your boss sitting behind you has waited on me personally. I have copies with me .Besides no other foreigner ever comes in here to wire money. You all know who I am and you all know my family too.\”The man apologized again bowing.

And said it was impossible. New laws had made sending money more difficult.

 

The government wished to tighten down because of North Korea.

I told him to take a good long look at me. Now I said to the clerk, do I look like a North Korean to you. And my children in the States are Japanese and American citizens. Plus how hell would North Korea use this money? The amount was enough to buy peanuts, not plutonium.

 

\”I am sorry he said. I was deciding whether to stomp out, or to first close my account and then stomp out of there, when he added:\”

You have only two possible options. You can either legally change your name to match your passbook.\” \”WHAT!?\”I reached for his neck.\”Or you can create a new passbook. It takes about five minutes.\” \”Alright. That\’s what I\’ll do. But can I strangle you first?\”

Of course he didn\’t answer. Ten minutes later I went home with my money sent and a brand new passbook, along with some small gratification gift that I somehow triumphed over Japanese bureaucracy. Or so I thought.

 

You won\’t believe this:

In the next month I was contacted by every Japanese creditor I had, all bellowing for payment. Why?

Because now my passbook name was not the same as their billing data. The post office would not release my funds. I have to contact each creditor and change my name on their endless forms. So I had been here far too long. At least under my shortened name.

\”Anyway there is some light at the other end of the tunnel.\”

 

December 22nd my wife Keiko and I are going to take a breather and come to Gloucester City, for a well deserved holiday with our family and friends, we\’ll depart for our home in Japan on January 3, 2008.

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

 

Hank & Keiko Miller

 

 

The Mt. Ephraim Public Schools wishes to thank Mr. Sam Conte, Sr. and Mrs. Michelle Orosze (center) of the Mt. Ephraim Rotary Club for presenting the third grade class of Mary Bray School with brand new dictionaries.

Top Row (left to right): (Teachers) Mrs. Nadine Oliveti, Mrs. Nicole Shapley, Mr. Joseph Rafferty (Superintendent)

Mr. Michael Profico (Principal), Mrs. Gloria Knight.

Students, (left to right) : Amy Guldin, Cassidy Chambers, Michael Snyder, Kaelyn Lahn and Nevada DeFord

 

Collegeville, PA. The College of New Jersey wrestling team boasted four
champions at the Ursinus College Fall Brawl on Sunday with five other
grapplers take second in the non-team scored event.

TCNJ\’s first title came at 133 pounds as seventh-ranked senior Ray
Sarinelli (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) won all four of his bouts including
a 5-2 decision over Steve Kingsland of Ursinus in the championship.
Sarinelli is now 10-0 on the season.

Two weight classes later, sophomore Tyler Branham (Newton,
NJ/Kittantinny) won the 149-pound weight class with a convincing 11-0
major decision over Muhlenberg\’s Rob Kein in the finals. Branham, who is
ranked fourth nationally in his weight class, was 4-0 on the day and with
his second win in the tournament earned his 50th career victory.

The Lions won back-to-back weight classes at 165 and 174 pounds with
freshman Justin Bonitatis (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) winning at
165 and junior Greg Osgoodby (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) at 174.

Bonitatis needed five wins to claim his weight class as he clinched the
title with a pin of teammate Al Wonesh (Columbus, NJ/North Burlington) in
1:50. Those five wins puts Bonitatis at a near-perfect 13-1 in varsity
action this season.

Osgoodby won his second tournament of the season with an 18-1 technical
fall of Lycoming\’s Troy Hayre in the finals. It was Osgoodby\’s second win
of the tournament by technical fall, while adding a pin and a major
decision in his other two victories.

In addition to Wonesh\’s second-place finish, the Lions had four others
reach the finals. At 125, Kyle Kinchen (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) fell 6-4 in
overtime to York\’s Kyle Flickinger, who is ranked seventh nationally. TCNJ
dropped another close decision in the finals at 141 as freshman John
Barnett (Oakridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) fell 5-3 to Damian Rose of Thiel.

Sophomore Dan DiColo (Budd Lake, NJ/ Mount Olive) fell by a narrow 7-6
margin at 157 to seventh-ranked John Niedrich of York (PA) College, while
senior Steve Carbone (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) fell 3-0 to York\’s Luke
Panizzi in the finals at 285 in a battle of ranked opponents. Panizzi is
ranked ninth with Carbone one spot behind in 10th.

TCNJ also had three grapplers battle back to place third. Jon Biango
(Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) was third at 157, Mike Denver (Bayville,
NJ/Central Regional) finished in that same spot at 174 and Shawn
Vanwingerden (Wantage, NJ/High Point) at 197.

The Lions will return to the mat on Wednesday, November 28 heading to
King\’s College for a dual meet with the Monarchs.
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