By Bill Cleary

Friday, June 27, The Gloucester City News filed an OPRA request for a copy of the Email correspondence between Gloucester City Councilman Nick Marchese, Finance Chairman and City Administrator/Municipal Clerk Paul Kain. The request was hand delivered to the municipal building and given to the clerk.

Several sources say the Email referred to a number of issues including but not limited to the naming of a builder for Freedom Pier. Recently the City announced that 29 condos will be built at the old Coast Guard Base located on the Delaware River. The city is still seeking a builder for the project.

What is OPRA?

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) provides procedures for the public (the \”requester\’) to review or copy government records.

• *To access government records, a requester must determine which records he or she wishes to see or copy, and then determine which public agency holds them. OPRA applies to requests for records, not request for isolated facts. The requester should ask the custodian of records for help in identifying what public record is likely to contain the information or facts being sought.

• *In order to be considered a valid request under OPRA, the request must identify the specific record(s) desired, the request must be submitted to the records custodian of the public agency that has the record, and that agency\’s records request form must be used to ask for the record.

• *As general guidance regarding the release of records, OPRA provides that \”… government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination …. With certain exceptions …\” N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.

• *Additionally, OPRA defines a government record as a record \”made, maintained or kept on file … or that has been received in the course of … official business …\” N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1.

From what I have been able to gather from a confidential source (CS) on Friday, June 6 Councilman Marchese via an E-mail asked City Administrator Kain if he completed his new assessment and vision of the former Coast Guard Base property. Kain supposedly had a week to put together the report.

The following day, early Saturday morning according to the CS, Kain responded via Email to Marchese. Copies of the Email were sent to all council members. Along with deputy clerk Kathy Jentsch, Gina Dunphy UEZ office, Police Chief William Crothers, Frank Robertson and Bowie Johnson at the public works department.

Plus a CC: was sent to Fire Chief Brian Hagan, Joe Stecklair, Housing inspector, Joanne Marone, tax collector, Robert Saunders at a Cooper hospital E-mail address, John Dymond, tax assessor and to the Community Office. And it was sent to a person with the E-mail address of Gorman-Kain, and to a person with the E-mail address of James Ferry

According to the CS, Kain said he was putting this information together and unfortunately other matters had delayed his ability to complete it. That he works 60 hours a week 24/7 for the City.

The CS said it was his opinion the tone of the Email gave the impression that Kain was mad that Marchese had the audacity to ask him for this report which was a week overdue. The Confidential Source went on to say Kain was going to ask that Marchese be removed from the finance committee and that he be censured by the rest of council. That he (Kain) infers that Marchese had a professional relationship with one or more of the builders for Freedom Pier. And that Kain closes the correspondence with a demand that Marchese direct any further questions to him through the City solicitor said the CS.

There are 24 specific exemptions from disclosure included in OPRA. To view see link. http://gloucestercitynews.typepad.com/clearysnotebook/2008/07/opra-exemptions.html

It should be noted that just because the document you are requesting contains one or more of these exemptions it doesn’t mean the rest of the material in the document cannot be released if it meets the proper criteria.

Contacted for this article for an opinion on the Email was the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government. President Elizabeth Mason said all correspondence between government officials is open to the public for viewing. Likewise attorney Thomas Heim, of Woodbury said it was his belief that an Email or any other correspondence between community officials conducting city business would be public.

In Gloucester City the records custodian who decides whether or not this Email or other government records are made public is City Administrator/Municipal Clerk Paul Kain.

• *Information for the above (Government Records Council) GRC (http://www.nj.gov/grc
• The OPRA form for City of Gloucester City can be found at http://www.cityofgloucester.org/cityhall.php
• Link: www.clearysnotebook.com
  

All Things Paul Kain …………………………………..All Things Nick Marchese

 

source www.legionbaseball.com

UTICA, NY – Mark your calenders folks. July 3,4,5, and 6th will be four days of top caliber American Legion Baseball. It\’s the 26th annual Blue & Gold International Baseball Tournament. The tournament has ballooned from six teams last year to 12 this year. There three local teams: Adrean, New Hartford, and Utica plus nine from out of the area. There are teams from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Puerto Rico.

Teams from New Jersey include, Brooklawn, Haddon Heights, and Hamilton.

They\’ll play 33 games in four days. The competition will be very strong. To follow the tournament go to www.legionbaseball.com.

(As of 6 p.m. July 3)……………..http://adonovan-uticaod.blogspot.com
Army Division
Guaynabo Post 295, Puerto Rico (1-0)
Shrub Oak Post 1080, N.Y. (1-0)
Utica Post 229, N.Y. (1-0)
Vestal Post 89, N.Y. (0-1)
Haddon Heights Post 149, N.J. (0-1)
Adrean Post 625, N.Y. (0-1)

Navy Division
Hamilton Post 31, N.J. (2-0)
Brooklawn Post 72, N.J. (1-0)
Gaithersburg Post 295, Md. (1-1)
New Hartford Post 1376, N.Y. (0-1)
Melvin Rhodes Post 1231, N.Y. (0-1)
Binghamton Post 80, N.Y. (0-1)

SCHEDULE CHANGES:
Today\’s 1 p.m. game between Brooklawn, N.J. and Shrub Oak, N.Y. at Murnane Field\’s Donovan Stadium is rescheduled for 8 p.m. tonight.
Tonight\’s 8 p.m. game between New Hartford and Brooklawn, N.J. at Murnane Field\’s Donovan Stadium is rescheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Saturday\’s 5 p.m. game between New Hartford and Gaithersburg, Md. at Murnane Field\’s Donovan Stadium is rescheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Joe Corr Memorial Field.

Link: SouthCoastToday.com: The Gazette

By JON HAGLOF

Sports Editor
Most Viewed Stories

* INSIDE BOXING: De La Hoya still assembling the post-Floyd pieces
* Smokers denounce cigarette tax hike
* Thugs won\’t give peace a chance
* Acquitted murder suspect released on $1,000 bail for aggravated assault charge
* INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND EVENTS
* Recent arrests from New Bedford
* Some Mattapoisett beaches closed due to bacteria levels

MIDDLEBORO — Pratt Free School may have been the underdog entering the Middleboro Little League Major League championship series against Kelly\’s Tire, but they were playing their best ball of the season.

Sometimes that\’s all it takes.

With a 12-0 win in Game 1 last Monday night at the Field of Dreams and a 4-2 win in Game 2 last Wednesday night, Pratt Free swept Kelly\’s Tire to win the 2008 Major League title.

For the champs, which earned the number three seed in the playoffs with a record of 16-6, the series was highlighted by Andrew Card\’s shutout gem on the mound in Game 1 and back-to-back fifth-inning solo home runs from the bats Sean Chipman and Card, the game-winner and a little insurance, in Game 2.

Link: Sportfishermen.

Another good lookin day! Reported on July 3, 2008 Hopefully we get some guys on the beaches today. The weather shouldn\’t be a problem – Sunny and breezy. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Ocean water temps are in the low 60\’s. We are still suffering from a fisherman deficiency which produces a highly deficient fishing report. It\’s looking like everybody is fishing on the internet waiting for somebody else to find the fish and report it and you know what I say – Dry hooks don\’t catch fish! We had one weigh-in yesterday: Dave Leonard – fluke 21\” 3.2 lbs on a squid/spearing combo The weatherman is looking forward to his favorite forecasts of doom and gloom for the weekend. Just remember his recent accuracy ratio (or total lack thereof) and get a plan into place to enjoy the holiday weekend rather than sit home waiting for a 20 minute rainstorm that may never come. We got a surprise box of rod blanks yesterday. We used it as a training mission for Mike before the big box of blanks arrives! He was able to use a sharp tool without removing any necessary body parts! And you guys think he is untrainable. Grumpy hisself That was so much fun that today I\’m going to try running with scissors ………..Mike

Grumpy\’s Bait and Tackle
Seaside Park New Jersey
www.grumpystackle.com

By Bill Cleary

Students from Fabulous Feet located in Bellmawr NJ will be participating in Bellmawr’s 4^th of July Parade on Friday beginning at 10:30 AM.

The school is owned by Bill Robinson and the dance director is Tara Robinson his wife.

Mrs. Robinson once suffered from a viral infection that paralyzed her for months. Beating all odds she has successfully brought the students to National championship level in two short seasons.

Photo: Tara and the dancers performed in Washington DC this past April. Click on photo to enlarge

The dancers and Tara have been working hard on the particular piece of choreography they will be performing on Friday morning. This will be the 3rd year participating in this event. This dance is used for all their charity performances.

The Bellmawr mayor and council have issued proclamations to all the dancers for their hard work in winning the NJ state dance competition with 18 awards last year and 22 this year. The governing body is also purchasing all the students jackets.

Most recently Tara & the dancers were hand selected to dance in the
National Cherry Blossom parade with the National All star tap team. They went and did so well that they were invited to participate in next year\’s parade in the opening dance. The School was also invited to send dancers to perform in Philadelphia\’s own Thanksgiving Day parade.

The parents and students of Fabulous Feet have formed a charity dance troop to help raise money every year for Childhood Cancer Research. They have raised almost $14,000 in two years for the Alex\’s Lemonade Stand foundation. They have another benefit planned for this coming August.

Tara is truly an inspiration to these kids who range from all ages. She not only gives her time and knowledge to the dancers but truly cares for each of them.

Tara husband Bill said, \”To be able to stand and walk again is a gift. But to dance with these kids in and out of the classroom is truly remarkable.

\”This story goes to show you no matter what life throws at you, there is always gold at the end of a rainbow.\”

Link: – Breaking News From New Jersey – NJ.com.

Philip Lore can\’t escape the fact that he looks like a kindly grandfather. He\’s got a round face, a snow-white mustache and twinkling green eyes.

It turns out the 58-year-old New Jersey Army National Guard staff sergeant is a grandfather — six times over. Pity the new soldier who calls him grandpa, though.

Lore reacts to that word in an explosive flash, putting his face an inch from the offender\’s face, his eyes bulging, tobacco-flecked spittle flying and screaming out: \”Grandpa? The last guy who called me that got a bullet!\”

Link: al.com.

You\’ve no doubt heard the ages-old story.

Scuba divers inspecting a nearby dam emerge from the water terrified. In the dark waters below, they had spotted catfish as large as a Volkswagen. They refused to go back into the water for fear they might get swallowed whole.

That urban legend dates back to the 1950s. More than half-a-century later, fishery biologists in Alabama say they still hear the giant-catfish-below-a-dam story dozens of times a year.

By Sara Martino

NEWS Correspondent

The most frequent comment heard when a robbery or other injustice is noticed is \”I didn\’t want to call the police,\” Mayor John Soubasis said during last week\’s Brooklawn Borough Council.

He urged residents to call the police department for any disturbance or theft that they might see.

The Brooklawn Police Department recently arrested suspects in nine recent robberies.

A student came home from school during the daytime robbery and called 911 and the out-of-town suspects, who had allegedly been staying at a near-by motel, were caught by the police.

The governing body, spearheaded by Councilman Jerry Granstrom, has strongly pushed for a Town Watch. Interested volunteers may call the Borough office for information.

\”We do have a safe neighborhood, but we should be locking our doors and cars,\” Councilwoman Theresa Branella said.

Police Chief Fran Mc-Kinney told Council that compared to the $100 fee charged by surrounding towns, Brooklawn\’s towing fees were inadequate.

Currently the fee for towing, which is mostly tows necessitated by police stops, is $85.

Council approved an ordinance creating a one-way traffic flow on Chestnut Street. The entire length of Chestnut Street will be one way in a northerly direction between the hours of 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Residents in that location have complained about speeding and other hazards that occur when drivers use the street as a cut through.

Traffic will flow from Town Center toward New Broadway between those hours.

Resolutions were approved that authorize tax liens on properties where the Borough had to have high grass cut.

Borough Clerk Barbara Lewis said an hourly rate will be charged to the property owners for labor, equipment use and administrative duties.

Council accepted the annual audit report, which did not contain any findings against the Borough.

\”When I first came to work here, there were 24 findings that year. Now the findings are zero,\” said Lewis, who was thanked by Mayor and Council for her diligent work.

Councilman Greg Giles said the Town Yard Sale was a success.

\”There were 65 participants in the sale,\” he said.

Giles also reminded the public that the Fireworks celebration will take place on Saturday, June 28.

It was noted that Camden County removed some trees along Broadway up to Verrocchio\’s Produce.

The Borough plans to widen that area and place benches and trash cans along the way.

 

 

JOSEPH F. HANRAHAN

On July 1, 2008. Age 85. Of Haddon Heights. Loving husband of 23 years to Barbara Lovett (nee Costigan). Beloved father of Lois (Jim) McQuaide of Delran, Kelly (Ted) Krwawicz of Voorhees, and George (Mei-Shu) Lovett of Collingswood.

Loving and caring grandfather of Dani (Matt), Kelley (Rob), Stosh (Sue), Stacy, Katie, Marlene, Justin, Morgan, Maya and Alexander.

Loving great-grandfather of Max, Page, Owen, Estella and Allen. Dear Brother-in-law of Mary (Tony) Caruso, Annie Butz, Kathy (Bud) Clifford, Ed (Joanne) Costigan, Theresa Costigan, Lynn (David) Shamlin and Denise (Sean) Reilly.

Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Joseph proudly served our country during World War II and the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Merchant Marines.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Sunday evening from 6 to 8 PM and again on Monday morning from 9 to 10:15 am at the HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 9 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights. Phone: 856-547-1675.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning at 11AM at Holy Saviour R.C. Church: 50 Emerald Ave., Westmont.

Interment with Military Honors in Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Joseph\’s memory to Samaritan Hospice: 5 Eves Dr. Suite 300, Marlton NJ, 08053. Please write Joseph F. Hanrahan in the memo of the check.

Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Joseph F. Hanrahan. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Phone: 856-456-1142

GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University athletic director Joy Solomen has been named to the NCAA Division III Football Committee.

 

Solomen will serve a four-year term starting in September. She is only the second woman appointed to the NCAA Division III Football Committee. The first was Debra Warren (2003-04) from Chowan College.

 

\”I am honored to have been selected for the national football committee,\” said Solomen. \”It is a wonderful opportunity to represent our region. I am excited to accept this new challenge and look forward to working with a group of outstanding individuals.\”

 

The NCAA football committee is responsible for evaluating teams throughout the season, participating in regional and national conference calls, assisting with the selection of teams and the creation of the national championship bracket and assigning crews of officials to work the playoff games. The committee staffs selected playoff games and attends the championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. In addition, the members serve as chairs of respective regional committees, develop and review agenda items for the annual meeting and attend the meeting.

 

The NCAA Division III Football Committee consists of eight members, two from each of the four regions (East, North, South, West). This year’s committee members are: East – Michael DeLong, Head Football Coach, Springfield College and Joy Solomen, Athletic Director, Rowan University; North – Dick Kaiser, Director of Men’s Athletics/Compliance Director, Defiance College and Norman Eash, Associate Athletic Director/Head Football Coach, Illinois Wesleyan University; South – Chris Smith, Associate Professor/Head Football Coach, Grove City College and Steve Mohr, Head Football Coach, Trinity University (TX); West – Michael Maynard, Head Football Coach, University of Redlands and Chad Eisele, Athletic Director, Knox College.

 

At Rowan, Solomen was appointed the director of athletics in 1993 after serving as the director of women’s athletics since 1986. She directs a NCAA Division III athletic program of 18 sports, eight for men and 10 for women. 

 

Solomen has been active at the state, regional and national levels. She was president of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ). 

 

Solomen was a member of the NCAA women’s basketball committee and the region chair for seven years. In addition, she has served on the region volleyball committee and several Eastern

College Athletic Conference committees. Solomen completed two years on the Board of Director for the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). 

On the national level, she was elected chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council in 2001 and served as the vice chair the previous year. She was a member of the NCAA Executive Committee and was chair of the Division III Women’s Basketball National Committee from 1996-98. Solomen represented Division III on the NCAA association wide Recruitment Committee and the Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee. She was also the chair of the Division III Championship Committee and the NCAA convention planning sub-committee and a member of the Division III Initiatives Task Force.

 

Solomen graduated from Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and later earned her master’s in 1975. She was a three-sport athlete and a captain of the field hockey, lacrosse and basketball teams. From 1973-74, she was a graduate assistant for the Profs and was the assistant coach for the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams. She taught and coached at Houghton College (NY) and Moorestown High School (NJ). 

 

At Biola University (CA) from 1981 to 1986, Solomen coached volleyball and was an assistant professor. Her volleyball teams were second in the NAIA National Championship in 1985, NAIA District III Southern Division Conference Champions in 1984 and 1983 and NAIA District III Champions in 1982. She was also the chair of the health and physical education department at Glassboro High School from 1974 to 1981 where she coached girls’ field hockey, basketball, softball and track and field.

 

Solomen was inducted into the Gloucester County Hall of Fame, the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame and the Rowan-Glassboro State Hall of Fame. In 2002, she was honored by the National Association of College Directors of Athletics as the Division III Athletic Director of the Year for the Northeast Region and recognized as the Administrator of the Year by the CAANJ. She was named the 2003 Division III Administrator of the Year by NACWAA and received the General Robert R. Neyland Athletic Director Award from the All-American Football Foundation. 

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