American Honda Recalls Snowblowers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in $\"11082\"$ cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Honda snowblowers

Units: About 18,500

Importer: American Honda Motor Co. Inc., of Torrance, Calif.

Hazard: The fuel tank joint and O-ring located on the underside of the fuel

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American Legions Launches New Online Tool to Help Veterans

The American Legion has launched a new online tool aimed at helping veterans and their $\"Troxies$ families learn about and understand the benefits entitled to them. The American Legion Veterans Benefits Calculator gives veterans and their families a simple questionnaire and easy access to service officers who can help them with their claims.

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\”This tool proves useful and provides enough information to let veterans know where to get started,\” said John Hickey, American Legion Department Service Officer for Indiana. \”Many veterans do not realize some of the benefits they are entitled to and this will help them get pointed in the right direction.\” Hickey and other Legion service officers assisted in the calculator\’s development.

American Legion department service officers offer free advice and guidance to veterans who are dealing with VA and other government agencies.

\”The American Legion has department service officers across the nation that are trained to help veterans,\” Hickey said. \”Many people don\’t know we are here and this tool is a step in the right direction.\”

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Dec. 29 Video of Gloucester City Council Meeting

Video provided by John Schmidt

Acting Gloucester City Clerk Kathy Jentsch chairs the December 29, 2010 council meeting held at 4:15 pm at the municipal building 512 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City.

In order to have a quorum Mayor William James and Councilman Nick Marchese, who were not present, vote via conference phone.

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Best Wishes for a wonderful New Year! from the Borough of Audubon

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From all of us here at the Borough of Audubon
we would like to take this opportunity
to wish you a

Happy & Prosperous
New Year

You\’re Board of Commissioners

Mayor John Ward
Commissioner Bill Gannon
Commissioner Kurt Bicking

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Better Communications are Needed between Gloucester City Government and the People

Bill\’s Point of View

By Bill Cleary

It’s time to change the way the City government has communicated with $\"6a00d8341bf7d953ef010536e2a426970b-150wi\"$ you. The Independent team is a proponent of supporting and informing the City News of all major and current developments within the community.

\”We are a strong proponent for more informative use of Channel 19 and for bringing Council meetings back to Channel 19 so everyone can see what actions City government is taking in your behalf.

~Gloucester City Independent Democrat Mayor candidate William James (October 2006)

One of the many promises made by Gloucester City Mayor William James and his running mates Nick Marchese and Jay Brophy in 2006 was to improve communications between local government and the residents of the community. When they first took office in 2007 the James Gang was continually talking with the press. And recently the mayor did issue a 3500 word statement in October prior to the November mayor election on what he (they) had accomplished in his first term in office.

But with so many rumors flowing about the City and the fact that channel 19 is no longer showing council meetings it certainly suggest that in recent months that improvement in communicating with the taxpayers is needed.

There are several stories that come to mind that should have and could have been treated differently.

Example- Because of the budget deficit the City cut eight jobs in the fire department and is not replacing three positions in the police department. Since the police and fire department are two services that residents rely on for their safety further explanation should have been released explaining how the cutbacks will not interfere with that protection.

Fire Chief Hagan and Police Chief Berglund has assured council that our safety will not be jeopardized.

What are those plans? How much money will be saved? And since the 8 firemen were laid off was the increase in this year’s municipal taxes still necessary? If so why? What about the ambulance service being privatized, tell us more, don’t make us guess. An update once in a while would be nice.

Example-The dumping of landfill material on the City owned Amspec property is yet another story not handled correctly. Thousands of tons of fill had been dumped at the Water Street site in September when someone contacted CNB and asked what was going on? A call to the Mayor and this reporter was told the partial in and outs of what was supposedly announced at a city council meeting. That meeting was not shown on Channel 19 nor did the reporter covering the meeting write about it in their story.

Come to find out the City will receive millions in compensation for this project.

Good press it is called. Even if it the council meeting was broadcast on the local channel a press release to area news papers, TV stations about this project would give the City some much needed favorable publicity.

Example-The Country\’s first organic waste to energy/compost recycling facility will be built in Gloucester City. A resolution is passed at a council meeting, a few lines in that document says that an agreement has been reached to give the company the go ahead. Not a word from the City about the $30 million construction cost or what the city will receive in return for allowing it to be built on city owned property. Instead of getting the story out via a press release nothing is mentioned. The rumor mill started and CNB reached out to the one of the owners of the recycling facility and to the city solicitor for more information to write an article on the topic.

All great stories.

Yet the City failed to communicate with the residents about these topics and many others that have been happening recently in Gloucester City. What is wrong with the City Administrator, or the Community Relations Specialist issuing a press release? Isn’t that part of their job?

A New Year’s resolution our Mayor and Council might consider would be to go back to their 2006 campaign promises of keeping the public informed on a regular basis. Be it good news or bad. Mr. Mayor and council you are spending our hard earned tax dollars, and residents/taxpayers deserve that consideration. Let’s preempt the rapid spread of rumors in 2011. Get out ahead of the story before it breaks.

One thing further, I stand by my story that I wrote on November 14. Specifically the portion of the article that referenced the rumor about a medical waste facility, a garbage compost plant and a metal scrap yard were to be located at Southport. Mayor James said at the time, \”There are no plans on the table to accept any of those type businesses at South Port.\” December 22 a resolution authorizing the construction of a organic waste to energy/compost recycling plant in the Southport area was passed by council.

Anyone who feels that they have been \”misquoted\” by this reporter is urged to contact me to rectify the mistake if you feel one was made. Email [email protected] or call the Gloucester City News, 856-456-1199.

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Obits: Wayne M. Eller Sr. \”Pete\” of Gloucester City; John Ralph Varallo, of Audubon

Wayne Eller Sr., of Gloucester City, Korean War National Guard Veteran, Retired from Owens Corning Fiberglass

On December 27, 2010. Age 77. Of Gloucester City. Loving and devoted husband of 55

$\"Images-3\"$ years to Jean (nee Hagan). Loving father of Teresa Clements (Bill), Wayne Eller Jr. (Regina), Ken Eller (Kelly), Bill Eller (Noreen) and Joseph Eller (Jamie). Loving grandfather of Kevin (Justine), Tom, Jason (Jill), Erin (Paul), Amy, Michael (Lindsey), Megan, Wayne, Desmond, Brian, Madisyn, Kaleb, Tara, Brody, Anna, Kristin and Hailyi-Ann. Loving great grandfather of Taytem, Payton, Emily, Kaylee, Michael and Josh. Also survived by his sister Audrey Ellis and step-brother Phil Oyerly. Wayne proudly served our country in Army National Guard during the Korean War. He worked 34 years and retired from Owens Corning Fiberglass in Barrington. After retirement, Wayne enjoyed working at Walmart in Deptford.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Sunday evening from 7 to 9 PM and again on Monday morning from 9 to 10:30 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth St. Gloucester City. Mass of Resurrection and Burial Office will be celebrated Monday morning at 11 AM at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension: 110 South Sussex St., Gloucester City. Interment Woodbury Memorial Park, Woodbury. In lieu flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Episcopal Church of the Ascension at the above church address. Please write in the memo: Wayne M. Eller, Sr. Expressions of sympathy www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Wayne M. Eller, Sr. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ. Ph: 856-456-1142

John Ralph Varallo, of Audubon, former Camden City Public Schools Employee, WW II Army Air Corps Veteran

$\"R2\"$ John Ralph Varallo, on December 27, 2010, of Audubon and Camden. Age 86.

Beloved husband of the late Eleanor (nee Toscano). Devoted father of Judy Varallo-Morris and Johanna Filson (Doug). Loving grandfather of Serena Filson, Michael Filson and Anthony Morris and great grandfather of Gina Marotta. Dear brother-in-law of Mary Constantine and Rose Povse (Bill). Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Varallo retired from Camden City Public Schools after 30 years and was a member of Retail Clerks Local #1360, from where he retired after over 30 years. He proudly served his country during WW II with the US Army Air Corps. He was a diehard Phillies and Eagles fan who also enjoyed bowling.

Services held at at Emmaus Catholic Community, Sacred Heart Church, Mt. Ephraim.

Interment Atlantic City Cemetery, Pleasantville.

Family and friends may share memories at www.GardnerFuneralHome.com.

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Firemen\’s Union is Against the Privatizing of Ambulance Service

The Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) Locals 51 and 251 has issued the $\"N114007471967364_3123\"$ following press release in regards to the laying off of eight Firefighters/EMTS:

With the impending layoffs of eight Gloucester City firefighters scheduled for December 23, the Gloucester City Fire Department (GCFD) has been informed of an additional plan, currently in the works by Mayor William James and Council to privatize ambulance services in Gloucester City.

An official date of this privatization act is unknown. The governing body has recently met with county officials and representatives from several area hospitals to formulate an operational plan, as well as a contractual agreement to license, manage, and operate emergency medical services in Gloucester City after the layoff of eight city firefighters.

Ambulance service in Gloucester City has always been operated, supervised and staffed by the GCFD.

$\"Donation$ If allowed to take place, this proposed action will have a large impact upon residents, business owners, and visitors to Gloucester City.

Anytime a person in need of medical assistance dials 911, an ambulance staffed solely by professional Gloucester City firefighters arrives at your doorstep.

These firefighters are cross-trained as certified NJ Department of Health Emergency Medical Technicians, which provides them with the basic lifesaving skills used to render care on scene and en route to a hospital setting.

The GCFD has always maintained a high standard of care, compassion and professionalism for services to you, our customers. The knowledge, skills and abilities of Gloucester City Firefighter/EMTS are forged upon constant rigorous training, vast experience of members, and the mentoring passed upon each generation of firefighters to help aid their fellow citizens during distress.

In Gloucester City, when you call for help, it is always people you know personally and trust that respond to these emergencies.

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PSA Addresses \’Silent Killer\’

A new campaign is aimed at raising firefighter awareness to the dangers of carbon monoxide.

By Ed Ballam – Firehouse.com News

The silent killer for the fire service is carbon monoxide and the IAFF and the IAFC, have launched an educational campaign to raise awareness of its dangers.

Aptly called \”The Silent Killer,\” the health and safety campaign includes a six-minute video that highlights the immediate and long-term risks connected with carbon monoxide exposure. It\’s aimed at raising firefighter and responder awareness to the dangers of the colorless, odorless toxic gas.

The video can be viewed online at TheSilentKiller.net and DVDs will be widely distributed to fire departments throughout the world.

\”Carbon monoxide (CO) is a significant and deadly occupational risk factor for firefighters,\” said Harold A. Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters. \”We know that carbon monoxide is present in every fire and symptoms of CO poisoning are nonspecific and easy to miss. Any firefighter potentially exposed to CO and presenting with headache, nausea, shortness of breath or gastrointestinal symptoms should be assessed.\”