PHOTO: The Lilac is launched in 1933 at the Pusey & Jones Shipyard in Wilmington. Andrew J. Davidson was appointed captain during construction. (Hagley Museum and Library)

Shifted in 1939 as the Coast Guard assumed Lighthouse Service duties, the ship was renamed WAGL-227 and tended buoys after lighthouses automated. The Coast Guard converted most steam ships to diesel, but left the Lilac intact. Today, it is the only Coast Guard steam vessel left.

Painted gray in World War II, it added weapons and was assigned to port security. It was repainted in peacetime and moved to Gloucester, N.J., after its Edgemoor base closed in 1948.

\”We were thinking about eliminating those bonuses before other municipalities started doing it because of the recession,\” (Gloucester City Councilman Nick) Marchese said.

Employees were asking for much more than holding onto these perks, however.

\”They were asking for a 5 percent pay raise per year,\” he said. \”We were always going to go to arbitration based on that.\”

Officer William Johnson Jr., leader of the 27 officers represented by PBA Local 40, disputed the characterization of longevity pay as a bonus.

\”The way we do it, it\’s part of our paycheck. The more time you put in, the more you get paid to stay in the job,\” Johnson said. \”If it was a bonus then I would think I\’d get a separate check for that bonus. Part of my salary includes that longevity pay, and I\’m not going to give up a percentage of my salary because they all of a sudden can\’t afford it.\”

Israel’s cruiserweight Ran \”Sweet Dreams\” Nakash, 21-0 (15), continued his success at the legendary Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia Friday night with a workmanlike 8 round decision over Gary Gomez, 18-11-1 (8), of Salt Lake City. Kansas City, KS, cruiserweight Jeremiah \”Rocky\” Graziano, 7-0 (7), stopped Philly’s Andre \”Da Heat\” Hemphill, 8-13-2 (5), at 2:35 of the 1st round.

In one of the better fights of the night Philly’s Paul Fernandez, 5-2-1 (3), had his hands full for a couple of rounds with Quincy Johnson, 0-4-1 (0), of Cincinnati, before wearing him down. His trainer Sloan Harrison kept encouraging him to go to the body and it seemed to pay off when he finally did, in this 4 round featherweight match. Talmadge was the referee.